Counsel for workers who paid the old Jefferson County occupational tax have filed motions with the Court to have the funds currently held by the County transferred to an escrow account for the purposes of distributing refunds.  “All the money owed back to the taxpayers has now been collected,” said Sam Hill. “We believe it is time for the money held by the County under the Orders entered by Judge Rains to be removed from the County’s account and for the process of getting refunds to the taxpayers put in place.”  Added Jim McFerrin, “We have deposed Travis Hulsey, the County’s Finance Director, and we have a real good idea of what was collected, what the County was allowed to spend, and how much interest should be paid on this judgment.”  The parties anticipate a hearing in short order on making the transfer.  The next step will be the development of a plan to get refunds of amounts currently held back to the taxpayers, while at the same time implementing a plan to repay the sums the County was allowed to spend earlier this year.

Additionally, lawyers representing the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center, who had intervened in the occupational tax lawsuit, have filed a motion to be dismissed from the case now that all issues related to their interests have been resolved.  Counsel for the taxpayers have consented to this dismissal, while attorneys for Jefferson County have filed an opposition, citing possible future appeal issues.  Judge Rains has yet to rule on this motion.