From the Office of Governor Robert Bentley
MONTGOMERY- Governor Robert Bentley on Friday recognized members of the Alabama Coal Association for their decision to continue making voluntary payments to the Alabama Department of Revenue, supporting state and local entities that depend on funding from the expired coal severance tax.
Prior to its expiration, the coal severance tax was assessed on companies that extract coal in Alabama. The assessment of 13.5 cents per ton of coal severed would have produced an estimated $2.6 million this fiscal year for state and local governments and nonprofit organizations. However, a bill to renew the assessment died in the final hours of the 2011 Legislative Session.
On October 1, members of the Alabama Coal Association were no longer required to pay for coal extracted but decided to voluntarily continue making the payments to help the governments and nonprofits that depend on the funds.
“Coal has provided jobs to generations of Alabamians,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “Members of the Alabama Coal Association who voluntarily committed to continue making coal severance payments for the good of others are demonstrating all that is good about our state. I appreciate their leadership and cooperation with the Alabama Department of Revenue to ensure that the beneficiaries of these funds will continue to receive them.”
