§45-13-241. Consolidation of offices and duties of tax assessor and tax collector; chief clerk; oath and bond; office space, equipment; disposition of funds.

(a) On and after October 1, 1991, or if a vacancy occurs in either the office of tax assessor or the office of tax collector of Clarke County before such date, then immediately upon the occurrence of such vacancy there shall be the office of county revenue commissioner in Clarke County. If such office is established upon the occurrence of a vacancy in either the office of tax assessor or tax collector, then the tax assessor or tax collector, as the case may be, remaining in office shall be the county revenue commissioner for the remainder of the term for which elected tax assessor or tax collector, as the case may be. A revenue commissioner shall be elected in the primaries and the general election in November 1990, and in the general election every six years thereafter. He or she shall serve for a term of office of six years from the first day of October next succeeding his or her election and until his or her successor is similarly elected, qualified, and takes office.

(b) The county revenue commissioner shall do and perform all acts, duties, and functions required by law to be performed either by the tax assessor or by the tax collector of the county relative to the assessment of property for ad valorem taxation, the collection of such taxes, the keeping of records, and the making of reports concerning assessments for and the collection of taxes; provided however, nothing in this section shall be construed to change the procedures for assessment of property assessed by the Department of Revenue pursuant to Section 40-21-1 or this code.

(c) The revenue commissioner herein provided for shall appoint a chief clerk who shall, in his or her absence, have the power and authority herein granted to the revenue commissioner. The revenue commissioner shall also appoint a sufficient number of clerks and assistants to properly perform the duties of his or her office; however, all such appointments shall be made in strict conformity with the provisions of the civil service or merit system law of the county, and the revenue commissioner shall be deemed to be the appointing authority within the meaning of any civil service or merit system law. The salary of the chief clerk and all other clerks so appointed shall be set by the county commission.

(d) Before entering upon the duties of his or her office, the county revenue commissioner shall take the oath of office prescribed by Article XVI of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, and execute a bond in such sum as may be fixed by the Code of Alabama 1975, as amended, giving as security thereon a bonding company authorized to do business in Alabama. The bond shall be conditioned as other official bonds are conditioned and shall be approved by and filed with the judge of probate. The cost of the bond required herein shall be paid out of the general funds of the county on warrant of the county commission or other like governing body of the county, and shall be a preferred claim against the county.

(e) The county commission or other like governing body of the county shall provide the necessary offices for the county revenue commissioner in the courthouse, and shall provide all stationery, equipment, and office supplies, not otherwise furnished by law, needed for the efficient performance of the duties of the office.

(f) The county revenue commissioner shall collect and pay into the general fund of the county all fees, percentages, commissions, and other allowances which the tax assessor or the tax collector are now or hereafter by law authorized or directed to charge or collect for the performance of any duty imposed by law on any such officers and hereby transferred to and imposed on the county revenue commissioner. As compensation for the performance of the duties of office, the county revenue commissioner shall receive an annual salary of forty thousand dollars ($40,000), payable in biweekly installments out of the general fund of the county as county employees are paid.

(g) The offices of tax assessor and tax collector of Clarke County are hereby abolished effective on October 1, 1991, or on such earlier date as is prescribed in subsection (a) if a vacancy occurs in either the office of tax assessor or tax collector.

(h) It is the purpose of this section to conserve revenue and promote the public convenience in Clarke County by consolidating the offices of tax assessor and tax collector of such county into one county office.

(Act 82-557, p. 865, §§1-8.)