Cleburne Commissioners considering local gas tax

A referendum for a local gas tax proposed by the Cleburne County Commission is on todays meeting agenda, but commissioners say they are unsure what hurdles the proposal may face in light of the governor’s plan to raise taxes.

The commissioners are looking at adding a fuel tax of up to 5 cents per gallon to fund county road maintenance. If the commissioners approve the proposal, it would then go to the state legislature for approval and finally it would come before local taxpayers in the next scheduled election.

But commissioners are worried that proposals by Gov. Robert Bentley which include raising the sales tax on cars and raising taxes on cigarettes, may cause state lawmakers to back off on sponsoring the proposal.

Sen. Gerald Dial and Rep. Bob Fincher and they have indicated  they wouldn’t introduce the proposal into the Legislature.