"This new law is a step in the right direction.  Limited home rule will result in more effective and responsive county governments and lessen Montgomery's power to decide matters that are purely local in nature and should be handled by the government closest to the people." Gov. Bob Riley

Self-Governance Passes in 10 Alabama counties:
Self-governance passed in 10 Alabama counties during the general election on November 7 (Baldwin, Cherokee, Colbert, DeKalb, Escambia, Macon, Madison, Monroe, Tuscaloosa, and Winston ). In the June primary, 5 other counties passed Self-Governance (Autauga, Dallas, Jackson, Marshall, and Mobile).

What Self Governance Means to Your County

• Your county commission would have the authority to abate nuisances
  such as:
  -unsanitary sewage
  -noise
  -litter and rubbish
  -pollution
  -overgrown weeds
  -junkyards
  -and animals.
• If passed, the Act only applies to the unincorporated areas of the county.  The powers cannot be exercised in a city unless the city authorizes the county to act on its behalf.
• Only those citizens living in the unincorporated areas of the county will be able to vote on the measure.
• Your county commissions would NOT have the authority to raise or levy taxes, establish planning and zoning, or regulate utilities, railroads, landfills, or other companies regulated by a number of named agencies.

Check out the Public Resources section for a copy of the act, Q&A, and more.

Go to the County Resources section for sample documents that you can use in your county.