Revenue stream needs economic development, growth

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As you know, we lost our District 4 Commissioner Ronnie Joiner. Ronnie was a patriot who loved this county and our citizens. He worked hard not only for his district, but the entire county. I appreciate the County Commission closing the courthouse to allow our employees to attend the funeral.

Ronnie often passed through the courthouse and asked the elected officials and department heads if we needed anything or if he could help in any way. Closing for the afternoon was a very classy and proper thing to do. I miss Ronnie tremendously. My thoughts and prayers remain with his wife, Jenny, and his family.

Ronnie and I frequently discussed Coosa County with a focus on better serving our citizens and providing them opportunities. Our belief was bringing economic development to Coosa was the best, if not only, path to better support our citizens. We believed economic development would provide jobs, social functions, recreation, and events to draw visitors to our county and allow us to grow instead of losing population and revenue streams.

The following population data is from the 2010 and 2020 U.S. Censuses. I apologize for being so number-heavy, but with this data I hope to paint a picture that will help you progress through the column.

Alabama’s population is 5,193,088. Alabama’s population increased by 244,543 between 2010 and 2020.

Coosa County’s population is 10,387. Our population decreased by 1,152 between 2010 and 2020. Tallapoosa County’s population is 41,311. Their population decreased by 305 between 2010 and 2020.

In 1910, Coosa hit its peak with 16,634 citizens. By 1960, we had dropped to 10,766 citizens. Between 1980 and 2000, we grew in population to 12,202. Since 2000, we have declined.

Of Coosa’s 10,387 citizens, 1,662 are under age 18. Also, 2,826 are over age 65. That is significant because that is 4,488 (47%) who contribute little to nothing to the property tax base (thank you, Revenue Commissioner Lamberth), unrestricted funds on which our County Commission relies to run Coosa County. The numbers above do not include disability property tax exemptions.

The 2020 Census data indicates there were 2,236 Coosa citizens under age 65 with a disability. Some contribute to the property tax base; others do not. This greatly affects our major revenue stream.

Just for information, Coosa County covers 666 square miles, of which 651 miles is land with 15 miles of water. That averages 17 people per square mile. However, we know there are many miles of uninhabited land in Coosa County.

Based on 2026 estimates, by population Coosa County is number 62 of 67 counties. Tallapoosa County is number 30 of 67.

You may ask why I mentioned Tallapoosa County. Tallapoosa County and some of their cities, specifically Alexander City, are our partners in the Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance (LMAEDA) and the Lake Martin Area Industrial Development Authority (LMAIDA). Through this partnership and shared expenses, we built the LMAEDA Industrial Park in Kellyton. Without the partnership, Coosa County would not have an industrial park nor the businesses the LMAEDA has brought to Coosa County.

The Coosa County Commission, our county governing authority, owns little land outside the industrial park. The county-owned land outside the park is mostly occupied by our government offices such as the courthouse, highway department, landfill, and Sheriff’s Office/jail. As a note of interest, the Coosa County Commission does not own the parking lot behind the courthouse; it is leased.

In addition to their other duties, county commissions are responsible for economic development in their respective counties. Many counties purchase land to market to businesses. Some even construct buildings as an enticement in hopes businesses will purchase or lease the land and buildings and bring their businesses and jobs to their county.

Some people complain when counties purchase land and question why counties should be concerned about economic development or soliciting businesses to come into the county. Some argue they want no businesses other than grocery stores, convenience stores, gasoline stations, restaurants, or other service-oriented businesses to come into the county. Many say they like it just the way it is and want absolutely no changes, no development and definitely no industry.

However, in Coosa some of those who make those arguments appear before the County Commission to complain their roads are terrible, they had to wait 40 minutes for a sheriff’s deputy or ambulance to arrive, the rights-of-way along Coosa’s 600 miles of roads haven’t been cut, they had to drive 45 minutes or more to go shopping, the fire department didn’t respond in time to save their home, and so on.

Some people, while not against economic development, are of the opinion that businesses will naturally find properties owned by individuals or companies in a county if they wish to open there. Occasionally that will happen. However, most often a company or individual that uses this process will normally bring very few jobs nor jobs paying a decent salary.

The markets are extremely competitive for larger companies creating 75 or more jobs and paying $15 or more per hour to employees, especially if paying benefits.

Coosa relies heavily on the LMAEDA to help us. LMAEDA assists in helping expand existing businesses. They also help retain existing businesses while seeking new businesses with good paying jobs.

In 2023, Coosa County had 97 business establishments with employees. Those 97 establishments employed 1,341 people. The average travel time to work was 31 minutes. In 2023, Coosa County had 4,923 people who were employed.

Few of our citizens are employed in Coosa County. Most travel to other counties to find work. That fact alone has significant impacts on our schools, services and other revenue streams such as sales tax because many shop where they work.

So, what can Coosa County do to increase our revenue streams and property tax base on which the County Commission so heavily relies? We must grow; growing means economic development.

We do not want to become Atlanta. We don’t even want to become Montgomery. But we must become something other than what we are, number 62 of 67. We need to have more working age, non-disability citizens move into Coosa, work in Coosa, shop in Coosa, play in Coosa, and contribute to Coosa’s economy.

None of us want to increase our taxes to increase the county’s revenue stream. So, the only way to change our economic base and quality of life is to bring in businesses to employ our citizens or bring people from other counties to work, shop and play in Coosa County. The LMAEDA works hard to do that for us.

However, the LMAEDA needs help from Coosa’s citizens, cities/towns and communities. If anyone has vacant but inhabitable buildings the LMAEDA can market to site selectors, LMAEDA needs to know about them.

In addition, landowners with land they would like to develop should contact the LMAEDA. If a landowner desires specific type businesses to develop on their land, let the LMAEDA know. They will try to find someone interested in doing that. Without land, we can’t solicit businesses because we have nothing to market or show to potential investors or businesses.

I encourage everyone to go to the website (lakemartinalliance.com) to see more about the LMAEDA, Coosa and Tallapoosa counties. I also encourage you drop by the offices located in the Central Alabama Community College Betty Carol Graham Center to visit our LMAEDA Director Denise Walls. She works hard for both our counties and all our cities/towns.

Until next month, stay safe, God bless, and think about how you could help Coosa County develop a little.