§45-7-240. Establishment of county revenue commissioner; powers and duties.

(a) This section shall apply only in Butler County.

(b) The purpose of this section is to conserve revenue and promote the public convenience in the county by consolidating the office of tax assessor and the office of tax collector into one county office designated as the office of county revenue commissioner.

(c) At the expiration of the term of office of the tax assessor and the office of the tax collector of the county ending September 30, 2009, or if a vacancy occurs in either office, then immediately upon the occurrence of the vacancy, the office of county revenue commissioner shall be established. If the office of county revenue commissioner is established upon the occurrence of a vacancy in either the office of tax assessor or the office of tax collector, the tax assessor or the tax collector, as the case may be, remaining in office shall be the county revenue commissioner for the remainder of the term of office for which he or she was elected. For the purpose of this section, the words "vacancy in the office of the tax assessor or tax collector" shall mean when either of the elected officials holding the office of Tax Collector of Butler County or Tax Assessor of Butler County, on June 17, 2003, should die, resign, retire, or fail to seek re-election to such office, provided that, in the event of a vacancy by the means described above other than death, the vacancy shall not accrue until the effective date of resignation or retirement or until the expiration of the term of office for which elected, as the case may be. The county revenue commissioner shall be elected at the general election and every six years thereafter and shall serve for a term of office of six years.

(d) The county revenue commissioner shall 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 taxation, the collection of taxes, the keeping of records, and the making of reports concerning the assessment and collection of taxes.

(e) As deemed necessary by the county commission, the county revenue commissioner shall 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 deputies shall have the same force and legal effect as if performed by the county revenue commissioner. The compensation for any deputies, clerks, and assistants shall be fixed by the county commission and shall be paid out of the general fund of the county in the same manner as the salaries of other county employees are paid.

(f) Before entering the duties of his or her office, the county revenue commissioner shall take the oath of office prescribed in Article XVI of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, and execute a bond in a sum as may be fixed by Section 40-5-3, for tax collectors. The bond shall be conditioned as other official bonds are conditioned and shall be approved and filed with the judge of probate. The cost of the bond required shall be paid out of the general fund of the county on warrant of the county commission, and shall be preferred claim against the county.

(g) The county commission, as it deems necessary shall provide the offices for the county revenue commissioner, and his or her deputies, clerks, and assistants, and shall provide all stationery, equipment, and office supplies needed for the efficient performance of the duties of the office and not otherwise furnished by law by the Department of Revenue, the Department of Finance, or the State Comptroller.

(h) 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 tax collector of the county is authorized and directed to charge or collect for the performance of any duty imposed on the county revenue commissioner. As compensation for the performance of the duties of his or her office, the county revenue commissioner shall receive an annual salary of sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) payable as provided in Section 40-6A-2.

(i) The offices of tax assessor and tax collector are abolished effective the first day of October 2009, or on such earlier date as prescribed in subsection (c) if a vacancy occurs in the office of tax assessor or tax collector.

(Act 2003-219, p. 550, §§1-9.)