No tax refund for Jefferson County residents and businesses

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A ruling from Alabama's Supreme Court means that Jefferson County will not have to reimburse workers and businesses for roughly $100 million in taxes. That ruling helps pave the way for the county's exit from bankruptcy. The case began in 2010 when Circuit Judge Charles Price ruled that Jefferson County's occupational tax was invalid because the law enabling it was unconstitutionally passed by state lawmakers. AL.com (http://bit.ly/TZceVs ) reports that Price ordered some refunds, but not $100 million requested by parties representing taxpayers. The state Supreme Court upheld Price's ruling. The Jefferson County Commission filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history a year ago.