Alabama Association of County Commissions

Alabama Association of County Commissions is a statewide organization that represents the interests of Alabama's 67 county commissions, working closely with National Association of Counties and United States Department of Agriculture. The association was established in 1977, with the goal of providing a unified voice for county governments in Alabama, similar to the National League of Cities and the United States Conference of Mayors. The organization is headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, and its members include county commissioners from across the state, including those from Jefferson County, Alabama, Mobile County, Alabama, and Madison County, Alabama. The association works with various state and federal agencies, including the Alabama Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and Environmental Protection Agency.

● History

The Alabama Association of County Commissions was founded in 1977, with the primary objective of promoting the interests of county governments in Alabama, in collaboration with organizations such as the National Association of County Health Officials and the International City/County Management Association. Since its inception, the association has worked to address various issues affecting counties, including infrastructure development, public health, and economic development, often in partnership with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and the Appalachian Regional Commission. The association has also played a key role in shaping state and federal policies that impact counties, such as the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act and the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, which have been influenced by the work of United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Over the years, the association has worked with various state and federal officials, including Governor of Alabama Bob Riley, United States Senator Richard Shelby, and United States Representative Robert Aderholt, to advance the interests of counties in Alabama, including those in Baldwin County, Alabama, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, and Shelby County, Alabama.

● Organization

The Alabama Association of County Commissions is governed by a board of directors, which is composed of county commissioners from across the state, including representatives from Autauga County, Alabama, Elmore County, Alabama, and Chilton County, Alabama. The board is responsible for setting the association's policies and priorities, in consultation with organizations such as the National Association of County Administrators and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The association also has a number of committees, including the Legislative Committee, Public Works Committee, and Health and Human Services Committee, which focus on specific issues and work with state and federal agencies, such as the Alabama Department of Public Health, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The association's staff, led by an executive director, provides support and guidance to the board and committees, and works closely with other organizations, including the National Association of State Legislatures and the Council of State Governments.

● Membership

Membership in the Alabama Association of County Commissions is open to all 67 county commissions in Alabama, including those in Cullman County, Alabama, Morgan County, Alabama, and Limestone County, Alabama. The association's members include county commissioners, county administrators, and other county officials, who work together to address common challenges and opportunities, often in partnership with organizations such as the National Association of County Planners and the American Planning Association. The association also has associate members, including businesses and organizations that provide goods and services to counties, such as Waste Management, Inc. and AT&T. The association's membership is diverse, reflecting the varied needs and interests of counties across Alabama, from Birmingham, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama to Huntsville, Alabama.

● Activities

The Alabama Association of County Commissions engages in a range of activities to support its members and advance the interests of counties in Alabama, including Auburn, Alabama, Tuskegee, Alabama, and Phenix City, Alabama. The association provides training and education programs for county officials, such as the National Association of Counties' County Leadership Institute and the International City/County Management Association's Leadership ICMA program. The association also conducts research and analysis on issues affecting counties, such as transportation funding, public health policy, and economic development strategies, often in collaboration with organizations such as the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution. Additionally, the association advocates for counties at the state and federal levels, working with officials such as the Governor of Alabama, Alabama Legislature, and United States Congress, including the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations and the United States House Committee on Appropriations.

● Legislative Priorities

The Alabama Association of County Commissions has a number of legislative priorities, which are shaped by the needs and interests of its members, including those in Coffee County, Alabama, Dale County, Alabama, and Geneva County, Alabama. The association works to secure funding for county priorities, such as infrastructure development, public safety, and human services, often in partnership with organizations such as the National Association of State Budget Officers and the National Conference of State Legislatures. The association also advocates for policies that support county governance, such as home rule and local control, and works to address issues such as taxation and regulation, which impact counties across Alabama, including Houston County, Alabama, Henry County, Alabama, and Barbour County, Alabama. The association's legislative priorities are informed by its members and are designed to promote the well-being and prosperity of counties and their residents, in collaboration with organizations such as the National Association of County Health Officials and the American Public Health Association.