§45-2-241. Consolidation of unified system.

(a) At the expiration of the terms of office, or if a vacancy occurs in either the office of Tax Assessor or the office of Tax Collector of Baldwin County, then immediately upon the occurrence of a vacancy there shall be established the office of County Revenue Commissioner in Baldwin County. If the 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 he or she was elected. A revenue commissioner shall be elected at an election called for that purpose and every six years thereafter. He or she shall serve for a term of office of six years.

(b) The county revenue commissioner shall do and perform all acts, duties, and functions required by law 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 the taxes, the keeping of records, and the making of reports concerning assessments for and the collection of taxes.

(c) Subject to the approval of the county commission, the county revenue commissioner shall within the policies and procedures of the county commissioner appoint and fix the duties of a sufficient number of deputies, clerks, and assistants to perform properly the duties of his or her office. The acts of the deputies shall have the same force and legal effect as if performed by the county revenue commissioner.

(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 a sum fixed by the county commission, 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 shall be paid out of the general funds of the county on a warrant of the county commission and shall be a preferred claim against the county.

(e) The county commission shall provide the necessary offices for the county revenue commissioner 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 and the tax collector are now or hereafter by law authorized or directed to charge or collect for the performance of a duty imposed by law on the officers and transferred to and imposed on the county revenue commissioner. As compensation for performance of the duties of his or her office, the county revenue commissioner shall receive a minimum salary as provided by Section 40-6A-2, payable in the manner prescribed by the county commission, out of the county general fund with the exact amount to be set by resolution of the county commission prior to the county revenue commissioner taking office.

(g) The offices of Tax Assessor and Tax Collector of Baldwin County are abolished effective on the last day of the term to which they are elected, or on an 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 Baldwin County by consolidating the offices of tax assessor and tax collector into one county office.

(Act 93-667, p. 1203, §§1-8.)