AMENDMENT 319 RATIFIED
Special Property Tax for Public Library Purposes in Baldwin County and Municipalities Therein.
A. In addition to all taxes now or hereafter authorized by the Constitution of Alabama, including amendment CCLXIX [269], Baldwin county or any incorporated municipality within such county which supports, jointly supports, or proposes to support a public library is hereby authorized to levy and collect a special tax of not more than forty-five cents on each one hundred dollars worth of taxable property within such county or municipality as assessed for state taxation. The proceeds of all such taxes shall be used exclusively for public library purposes; provided, that the levy of such tax, the rate of such tax and the purpose thereof shall have been first submitted to the vote of the qualified electors of the county or municipality and voted for by a majority of those voting at such election.
B. Upon petition signed by four hundred or more qualified electors of Baldwin county to the Baldwin county commission or like governing body, or upon a petition signed by two hundred or more qualified electors of any municipality in such county to the governing body of such municipality, the county commission or the governing body of the municipality shall order an election to be held to determine whether a special tax shall be levied at the rate specified by the governing body of such county or municipality for public library purposes.
C. Elections under this amendment relative to additional county taxes for county public library purposes shall be held at the same time any other general or special election is held in which the voters of the entire county are qualified to vote, and elections under this amendment relative to municipal taxes for municipal library purposes shall be held at the same time any other municipal election is held.
D. If authorized by the vote of the majority of the qualified electors voting in any such election called for the purpose, the county or city governing body, as the case may be, shall levy and collect, in addition to all other taxes authorized by law, a special annual ad valorem tax at the rate prescribed and approved by the electors voting in the election. If the majority vote at any election held hereunder is not in favor of the levy of the tax, or if at any such election the special tax shall be voted at a rate of less than forty-five cents on each one hundred dollars worth of taxable property, then the governing body of the county or city, as the case may be, may from time to time thereafter call other elections hereunder on the levy of the special tax or on the increase of the rate thereof, up to but not exceeding a total amount of forty-five cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable property, and must call any such election at the next general or special countywide election or next municipal election, as the case may be, next following the receipt of a petition in the manner and form herein prescribed. Provided, however, that not more than one election upon the levy or upon the increase of the rate of the special tax shall be held during any period of twelve consecutive months. After the special tax shall have been levied for a period of three years, the governing body of the county or city, as the case may be, upon its own original action may from time to time thereafter call other elections hereunder on the question of the discontinuance of the tax or a reduction on the rate thereof, upon the payment in full of all obligations then outstanding, if any, and when a reduced rate will provide sufficient revenue for the purposes for which the tax was levied. If the majority of electors participating in the election vote in favor of the discontinuance or reduction in the rate of the tax, as the case may be, such discontinuance or reduction shall become effective for the tax year next succeeding the tax year in which such election is held. Provided, that not more than one election for the discontinuance or reduction in the rate of the special tax shall be held during any period of twelve consecutive months. All such elections shall be called, held and conducted in the same manner as are elections proposing the special tax.
