Alabama Constitution Section 226 Same Municipal corporations whose present indebtedness exceeds constitutional limitation exception as to Sheffield and Tuscumbia le
Alabama Constitution – Section 226: Municipal Corporations with Excess Debt Limits (Exception for Sheffield and Tuscumbia)
Text of Section 226:
"The provisions of the preceding section shall not apply to municipal corporations now authorized to issue bonds in excess of the limitations prescribed in section 225 of this Constitution, whose present indebtedness exceeds such limitation, and which are located in counties having a population of not less than seventy thousand and not more than ninety thousand, according to the federal census of 1910; but such municipal corporations may issue bonds in conformity with the acts heretofore passed by the legislature or which may be hereafter passed in accordance with this section: Provided, That the municipality of Sheffield, in Colbert county, and the municipality of Tuscumbia, in Colbert county, shall have the right to become indebted and to issue bonds to an amount not exceeding 25 per centum of the assessed value of the property therein, and such increase of the debt limit shall be in addition to the debt limit now allowed under this Constitution."
Explanation:
Section 226 creates exceptions to the debt limits placed on municipal corporations (cities/towns) under Section 225 of the Alabama Constitution. Here's what it allows:
Municipalities whose current debt already exceeds the constitutional limit (as described in Section 225) may still issue bonds if:
They were already authorized by law to do so,
They are located in counties with a population between 70,000 and 90,000 (based on the 1910 census).
Specifically, Sheffield and Tuscumbia (in Colbert County) are expressly allowed:
To issue bonds up to 25% of the assessed property value in the municipality.
This is in addition to whatever limits are already provided under the Constitution.
Key Takeaway:
This section is a special constitutional exception that allows certain cities — notably Sheffield and Tuscumbia — to exceed the normal municipal debt limits, recognizing their unique financial situations at the time (early 20th century).
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