Controversy over SB322 Explodes On Social Media—AL State Senator Gudger Responds

Alabama State Senator Garlan Gudger (AL-4) took to Facebook Friday evening to respond to a Facebook Post that Gudger contends inaccurately represents the facts around SB322.

SB322 concerns a property on Smith Lake. The bill would allow the property to be annexed into the City of Cullman without it being contiguous with current city borders.

Gudger’s Facebook video was promoted by an earlier Facebook post, which Gudger called a “whirlwind of confusion.” He then went on to clarify a number of things about SB322 and the development project it would facilitate.

According to Gudger, SB322 does two things: firstly, it would establish a Board of Directors for the development, including how such a Board would be staffed and meet. Two, it would allow the district to be annexed into a wet City within the County by petition of the Board to the City.

Gudger cites the post as saying the County Commission was asked to enter into a $100 million bond issue by the developer, but declined. According to Gudger, he had no part of this, and as far as he knew once the County declined that was the end of it. The County would not be “on the hook for anything, they’re out of it. It’s a done deal, so be it.”

Gudger cited the past as saying that the County Commission is always the last to know. Gudger then stated that he found out about the project because he actively looked into the situation.

Gudger emphasized that the rumor that this development would involve a casino built by the Poarch Creek Indians was absolutely not true. He categorically stated that he would be opposed to such a project now or in the future.

Sources have told ALPolitics.com that, while the Poarch Creek Indians are involved in the development, they have no plans to build a casino on the property. Even if they had the desire, the property is not considered tribal lands. Since the Tribe can only build casinos on tribal lands, such a project is impossible at this time and for the foreseeable future, as this is a federal law.

Gudger emphasized that the Poarch Creek were interested in this project not for a casino or bingo, but to develop a world-class resort and conference center with an 18-hole golf course.

Gudger then addressed the annexation issue, saying that if people owned property in the are of the resort and did not want to sell, they would not be compelled to sell. The fear that the City would come in and forcibly annex property into the development is untrue, Gidger said.

Gudger explained that he set up the bill so that the Board would have to work with the City Council to coordinate services such as fire, police and other issues. He denied that there would be any cross-water, down water or ribbon annexation.

Gudger briefly mentioned a local Lions Club that might want to sell to the development, but he said it would be the choice of the Lions as to whether or not to sell.

Gudger then reported tax numbers that he had just pulled from the County and State. He said that the property tax on the 2500 acres that are planned, the current property tax revenue is between $2 and $4 per acres. The total property tax revenue at present is between $10,000 and $15,000 dollars.

According to Gudger, the total investment of this development including the hotel, conference center, marina, other facilities and associated homes will be $1.15 billion dollars.

That would generate tax revenues for the County and Schools of about $2.7 million for the County Commission per year. The County schools would receive $843,000 yearly, solely from property taxes.

The project’s estimated sales taxes are $1.35 million per year. Because Cullman City and County have a somewhat unique arrangement where the City and County split sales taxes roughly 50/50, the County Commission would receive roughly half of this $1.35 million per year. According to Gudger’s estimates, this would be an additional $464,000 annually for the County Commission, with an additional $425,000 for the County Schools.

Lastly, Gudger pointed out that the development is estimated to create 390 jobs at an average salary of $79,000/year. He compared this to the current average salary in Cullman County of $48,403 per year.

Gudger concluded by saying that the intent of this project would be to create a world-class resort to draw people to Cullman and “leave their money here.”

At the end of the video, Gudger asked that those who had question please call him. He offered to have a face to face debate with the author of the post on these issues. He finished by repeating that his job as a State Senator was to “provide clarity” to address this “whirlwind of confusion.”

Gudger’s Facebook video many be seen HERE. The full text of SB322 is available HERE.

This is a developing story.