Tuscumbia Council votes to raise sales tax half a percent, Spring Park BBQ stand has new tenant

The Tuscumbia City Council voted unanimously to raise the city sales tax rate by half a percent to 4 total during its March 2 meeting.

Mayor T.W. Billings said the increased sales tax is expected to bring in about $600,000 a year in increased revenue.

The increase will bring the total sales tax within the corporate city limits of Tuscumbia to 9.5 percent.

The city itself will get 4 percent, while 4 percent is from the state of Alabama and the other 1.5 percent goes to the county.

Billings said the city has to notify the Alabama Department of Revenue of the increase, with the change expected to be ratified in about 60 days.

City Attorney Kyle DeFoor said the change should take effect around June 1.

When asked what projects or items the increased revenue is expected to pay for, Billings said there were “all kinds of things” the city hopes to do with the money.

In other business, the vacant food stand in Spring Park officially has its first new tenant since June of 2025.

The Council voted unanimously to lease the barbecue stand to Bama’s Most Wanted, which is currently a food truck that sells smoked meats like Philly sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos, chicken wings and tenders.

“They are going to use the stand as commissary to stock the food truck,” Billings said. “They are going to clean up the stand, and we are giving them a low rent to start with. The daughter is going to continue to operate the food truck.”

The Council also voted unanimously to raise commercial garbage rates within the city for the first time since 2007.

Public Works Director Joel Kendrick said during the previous meeting the city has over 200 pay schedules for commercial rates depending on how often the customer gets service.

Council member Len Gregory was unable to attend the March 2 meeting.