By Gary Lloyd
The Clay City Council will meet in a work session Monday to discuss possible tax increases and potential changes to its vicious dog ordinance.
The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at Clay City Hall.
Mayor Charles Webster said the taxes discussion will center on whether or not the city should raise its sales tax or implement a property tax. The city currently has an 8 percent city sales tax. Webster said the discussion will be about whether or not to raise that one or two cents per dollar. The city receives two cents of the eight.
Trussville has a sales tax of 10 cents, while Pinson has an eight-cent sales tax.
Clay does not have a property tax, something Webster said is “unusual” for cities these days. Webster said the Clay City Council could only vote for a five-mill property tax, which equates to $50 per year on a $100,000 home. Anything more than five mills would require a citizen vote, Webster said.
The meeting will also focus on the city ordinance passed in June that bans pit bulls and other “vicious dogs.” The discussion will likely focus on the possibility of removing breed-specific language from the ordinance but prohibiting residents from operating a kennel where dogs are trained to fight.
According to the June ordinance, existing pit bull dogs, or any of their variations, must be registered with the city, no new pits may be brought into the city, and any newborn pit puppies will need to be removed from the city limits within a certain amount of time.
These dog breeds must be confined indoors or kept in a locked, outside pen. If taken for a walk, the dogs must be leashed and muzzled at all times. Within 10 days of registration, owners must post “Beware of Dog” signs in easily seen locations on their property.
Owners are also required to carry $50,000 in public liability insurance for their pets. In case of the death of a pet, the birth of puppies or a change of address within the city limits, owners have 10 days to notify city officials.
Violators of this ordinance will face between $200 and $500 in fines as well as up to 30 days in jail.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.