Jackson County commissioners voted Nov. 24 to authorize the county to intervene as a defendant in litigation that seeks to disqualify certain sellers from the Alabama simplified seller/use tax (SSUT) program.

Speaker 1 read a resolution describing the legal challenge filed in Montgomery County and said the county must act within a court-imposed 30-day deadline to protect its revenue. The resolution cites the state code governing SSUT and asks the commission to take "all necessary actions" to safeguard the county’s interest. "SSUT is one of our top four sources of revenue," Speaker 1 said, adding that the top four sources account for roughly 75% of the general fund.

The commission moved, seconded and voted in favor of approving and signing the resolution. The motion passed with all members saying "aye." No further debate or amendments were offered on the floor.

Why it matters: County officials said the outcome of the case could threaten a major stream of local revenue used to fund government services. The resolution directs county staff and counsel to proceed with intervention and related steps to protect Jackson County’s fiscal position.

What happens next: The resolution authorizes the county to join the litigation as a defendant and instructs county legal staff to file the required motions and take necessary procedural steps. The commission did not detail further litigation strategy during the meeting.