Autauga County Tax Bill Reaches Governor, Residents Say They Were Blindsided

Stephanie Gillespie didn't mince words. The Autauga County resident told reporters she felt "blindsided" by the rapid advancement of House Bill 569, a measure that would impose a new half-cent sales tax and a 3% rental tax countywide, and that now sits on Governor Kay Ivey's desk awaiting her signature.

The legislature enrolled HB569 and transmitted it to the governor on March 31. If signed, the bill takes effect September 1, 2026, adding 0.5 percentage points to the county's existing sales and use tax rate while establishing a 3% tax on rental transactions. All proceeds would be deposited directly into Autauga County's general fund.

The bill's progression through Montgomery caught many residents off guard. County officials had voted as far back as February to advertise the legislation, a procedural requirement before local bills can advance in the state legislature. But many in Prattville and across the county say that step did little to signal what was coming. Gillespie's criticism focused specifically on what she described as a breakdown in communication between county leadership and the public.

Proponents of HB569 argue the revenue would provide a stable funding stream for services that have faced budget pressure in recent years, including infrastructure, jail operations, schools and public safety. The bill's text confirms that all proceeds flow to the county general fund.

Opponents pushed back on both the design of the taxes and the speed at which the bill moved. In the days following its enrollment, residents and elected officials responded with letters, phone calls and public statements. Their concerns centered on the real costs: higher prices for consumers, new burdens on renters and potential competitive disadvantages for local businesses.

The fiscal context driving the bill's support is not new. The approaching expiration of certain revenue-sharing arrangements has sharpened debate over how Autauga County funds its priorities, and HB569's backers positioned it as one concrete answer. County commission meetings and public forums in April and May are now expected to become pressure points, as residents push officials for specifics on how any new revenue would be allocated and whether any relief measures might follow.