General Provisions.

Ala. Code tit. 11, tit. 2, ch. 43, art. 1

in effect

Ala. Code § 11-43-1 Qualifications and Residence of Mayors, Councilmen, and Officers.

11-43-1. Qualifications and Residence of Mayors, Councilmen, and Officers. Every mayor, councilman, and officer elected by the whole electorate of the city or town shall be a resident and qualified elector of the city or town in which he shall have been elected and shall reside within the limits of the city or town during his term of office. The councilmen shall be qualified electors of said city or town, residing within the limits of the ward from which they shall have been elected and shall reside within the limits of said ward during the term of their office. (Code 1907, §1069; Code 1923, §1761; Code 1940, T. 37, §403.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-2 Election of Mayors and Aldermen; Exercise of Legislative Functions; Salary of Aldermen.

11-43-2. Election of Mayors and Aldermen; Exercise of Legislative Functions; Salary of Aldermen. (a)(1) Except as provided in subsection (c) and subdivision (2), in all cities and towns at the general election to be held at the time provided by law, and quadrennially thereafter, there shall be elected a mayor, who, in cities having a population of 12,000 or more according to the last or any subsequent federal census, shall not sit with the council nor have a vote in its proceedings, and he or she shall have the power and duties conferred in this chapter. (2) In all cities and towns with an even number of council seats, the mayor may vote as a member of the council in the case of any tie vote of the council, provided that the local governing body has adopted a resolution authorizing the mayor to act as such. (b) In all cities and towns having a population of less than 12,000 inhabitants according to the last or any subsequent federal census, the legislative functions shall be exercised by the mayor and five aldermen. The mayor shall preside over all deliberations of the council. At his or her discretion, the mayor may vote as a member of the council on any question coming to a vote, except in case of a tie, in which event he or she must vote. (c)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a), cities and towns having a population of 12,000 or more inhabitants but less than 25,000 inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census, by ordinance adopted by a majority vote of the council at least six months prior to the next general municipal election, may elect to operate pursuant to subsection (b) as it relates to the exercise of the legislative functions of the mayor until the population of the city or town is 25,000 inhabitants or more according to the most recent federal decennial census. (2) Any city or town having a population of 12,000 or more inhabitants but less than 25,000 inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census which has elected to operate under subsection (b) by ordinance adopted by a majority vote of the council at least six months prior to the next general election, may elect to operate under subsection (a). (d) The aldermen in the cities or towns shall be elected by the city or town at large at the general election held at the time provided by law and quadrennially thereafter, or from wards as the councils may determine not less than six months before an election, and shall receive such salary as the council may prescribe, which must be fixed by the council not less than six months prior to each general municipal election. (e) The six-month requirement in this section may be waived when necessary to comply with a mandate by the U.S. Justice Department pursuant to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, or with an order issued by a state or federal court. (Code 1907, §1068; Acts 1909, No. 200, p. 197; Code 1923, §1760; Acts 1927, No. 608, p. 706; Acts 1935, No. 516, p. 1105; Code 1940, T. 37, §404; Acts 1955, No. 394, p. 930; Acts 1956, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 112, p. 170; Acts 1961, No. 666, p. 910, §1; Acts 1984, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 84-703, §2; Acts 1984, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 84-740, p. 82, §1; Acts 1987, No. 87-581, p. 928, §10; Act 2018-281, §1; Act 2022-399, §1; Act 2026-594, §1.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-3 Election, Etc., of Treasurer, Clerk, Etc., in Cities Having More Than 6,000 Inhabitants; Consolidation or Abolishment of Offices.

11-43-3. Election, Etc., of Treasurer, Clerk, Etc., in Cities Having More Than 6,000 Inhabitants; Consolidation or Abolishment of Offices. (a) In cities having a population of more than 6,000, there shall be elected by the council, at its first regular meeting or as soon thereafter as practicable, a city treasurer and a city clerk, who shall hold office until the next general election and until their successors are elected and qualified, and such council may elect an auditor, and any officers whose election is required by ordinance, and, except as otherwise provided, the council shall have authority to fix the terms of office, prescribe their duties, and fix the salaries of the officers. The council may, by ordinance, require the city treasurer and the city clerk to be residents of the city. Except as provided in subsection (b), the council, by a two-thirds vote of the members elected, by and with the consent of the mayor, may consolidate two or more of the offices and may abolish any of the offices; provided, that the term of office of no incumbent shall be diminished. (b) The consent of the mayor is not necessary to consolidate or abolish offices pursuant to subsection (a) if the mayor is operating pursuant to Section 11-43-2 as it relates to the legislative functions of the mayor in cities and towns having a population of 12,000 or more but less than 25,000 inhabitants according to the most recent or any subsequent federal decennial census. (Code 1907, §1066; Code 1923, §1758; Code 1940, T. 37, §405; Acts 1984, No. 84-296, p. 661, §1; Act 2018-281, §1.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-4 Election of Clerk, Etc., in Towns and in Cities Having Less Than 6,000 Inhabitants; Filling of Vacancies in Council Generally.

11-43-4. Election of Clerk, Etc., in Towns and in Cities Having Less Than 6,000 Inhabitants; Filling of Vacancies in Council Generally. In cities having a population of less than 6,000 and in towns, the council shall elect a clerk and fix the salary and term of office, and may determine by ordinance the other officers of the city or town, their salary, the manner of their election and the terms of office, and shall fill all vacancies in the council by a majority vote of the council; and all members of the council may vote to fill vacancies any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding. The clerk and such other officers elected by the council shall serve until their successor or successors are elected and qualified. (Code 1907, §1067; Acts 1919, No. 448, p. 687; Code 1923, §1759; Code 1940, T. 37, §406; Acts 1951, No. 290, p. 583; Acts 1981, No. 81-627, p. 1043; Acts 1984, No. 84-286, p. 497, §1.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-5 Provision for Tax Assessor, Tax Collector, Chief of Police, Etc.; Designation of Persons to Administer Oaths, Issue Warrants, and Approve Appearance Bonds.

11-43-5. Provision for Tax Assessor, Tax Collector, Chief of Police, Etc.; Designation of Persons to Administer Oaths, Issue Warrants, and Approve Appearance Bonds. The council may provide for a tax assessor, tax collector, chief of police, and chief of the fire department and shall specifically prescribe their duties. The council shall designate the persons who shall administer oaths and issue warrants of arrest for violations of law and the ordinances of the city or town and the persons authorized to approve appearance bonds of persons arrested. (Code 1907, §1227; Code 1923, §1951; Code 1940, T. 37, §407.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-5.1 Abolition or Creation of Civil Service System, Etc., in Municipality Having Less Than 5,000 Inhabitants; Section in Pari Materia with Section 36-27-6.

11-43-5.1. Abolition or Creation of Civil Service System, Etc., in Municipality Having Less Than 5,000 Inhabitants; Section in Pari Materia with Section 36-27-6. (a) Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, the governing body of any municipality, with a population of less than 5,000 persons, by resolution duly adopted, may abolish or create a civil service system or other personnel board for its officers and employees. Provided, however, any person holding an office or position in or who is a member of any civil service or merit system within any such municipality upon any such action by a municipality shall continue all rights, interest, and privileges vested or vesting therein. (b) The provisions of this section shall be construed in pari materia with Section 36-27-6; provided, however, those laws or parts of laws which are in conflict with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed. (Acts 1984, No. 84-665, p. 1333, §§1, 2.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-5.3 Certain Class 8 Municipalities to Opt Out from the Jurisdiction of the County Personnel Board; Creation and Operation of Municipal Civil Service System.

11-43-5.3. Certain Class 8 Municipalities to Opt Out from the Jurisdiction of the County Personnel Board; Creation and Operation of Municipal Civil Service System. (a) This section shall apply to any Class 8 municipality with a corporate limit lying in two counties, which has a population equal to or greater than 25,000 according to the last decennial census and which was subject, on January 1, 2023, to a county personnel board. (b)(1) The governing body of a municipality, by ordinance, may opt out from the jurisdiction of a county personnel board, effective six months after the effective date of the ordinance. A copy of the ordinance shall be transmitted to the county personnel board following its passage by the municipal governing body. (2) Not less than 10 years after a municipality opts out from the county personnel board’s jurisdiction as provided in subdivision (1), the municipality, by ordinance, may opt back in to a county personnel board’s jurisdiction, effective six months after the effective date of the ordinance. A copy of the ordinance shall be transmitted to the county personnel board following its passage by the governing body. (c) Any municipality that opts out from the county personnel board’s jurisdiction as provided in subdivision (b)(1) shall create its own municipal civil service system which shall ensure that the vested or vesting rights of any existing appointees of the county civil service system are protected and not otherwise altered or diminished, except as otherwise provided for by law. (d)(1) Any municipality exercising its rights under this section may not engage in any type or form of discrimination that is prohibited by federal or state law. (2) Any municipality that elects to opt out as provided in this section shall enact a policy that explicitly prohibits the appointment, promotion, demotion, or dismissal of an employee from any position which in any way favors or discriminates against the employee because of his or her political or religious opinions or affiliations or because of his or her race or gender or for any other reason that is prohibited by state or federal law. (Act 2026-106, §1.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-6 Provision for Compensation of and Disposition of Fees Collected by Municipal Officers Generally.

11-43-6. Provision for Compensation of and Disposition of Fees Collected by Municipal Officers Generally. It may be provided by ordinance that any city or town officer, elected or appointed, shall receive a salary in lieu of all other compensation, and, in such cases, such officer shall not receive for his own use any fees or other compensation for his services as such officer but shall collect the fees authorized by law or ordinance and pay the same into the city or town treasury. (Code 1907, §1255; Code 1923, §1996; Code 1940, T. 37, §408.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-7 Establishment of Salaries and Fees of Municipal Employees; Disposition of Fees of Clerk.

11-43-7. Establishment of Salaries and Fees of Municipal Employees; Disposition of Fees of Clerk. All employees of any city or town whose compensation is not fixed by law shall receive such salary or fees for their services as the council may by ordinance from time to time prescribe. For all attested certificates and transcripts, other than ordered by the council, the clerk shall be paid fees not in excess of those allowed to county officers for like services to be accounted for in all cases as other public moneys where such clerk receives a salary or fixed compensation. (Code 1907, §1256; Code 1923, §1997; Code 1940, T. 37, §410.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-7.1 Expense Allowances of Members of Council or Other Governing Body of Class 1 Municipalities and Municipalities Having Population of 250,000 or More.

11-43-7.1. Expense Allowances of Members of Council or Other Governing Body of Class 1 Municipalities and Municipalities Having Population of 250,000 or More. (a) The council or other governing body of Class 1 municipalities in Alabama and all municipalities in Alabama having a population of 250,000 or more according to the last or any subsequent federal decennial census, shall have the power and authority to grant to any member of such council or other governing body an amount of money for expenses incurred by such member on account of such member’s attending the business of such municipality within its corporate limits. The maximum expense allowance shall be $500.00 per month for each member of the council, except the president or chairman of the council or other governing body who may be given an allowance not to exceed $550.00 per month. (b) In addition to the authority granted by subsection (a) hereof, the council or other governing body of Class 1 municipalities in Alabama and all municipalities in Alabama having a population of 250,000 or more according to the last or any subsequent federal decennial census, commencing December 1, 1987, shall have the power and authority to grant to any member of such council or other governing body who was elected for a term commencing in 1985 an amount of money in addition to that provided in subsection (a) above, for expenses incurred by such member on account of such member’s attending the business of such municipality within its corporate limits. The maximum additional expense allowance shall be $475.00 per month for each such member of the council. No such additional expense allowance shall be paid to any council member after November 15, 1989. (c) The provisions of this section shall not be construed so as to prevent any such member of such council or other governing body from being reimbursed for actual expenses incurred by him on or in connection with a trip on municipal business beyond the corporate limits of such municipality, which amount shall not accrue against the monetary amounts provided in subsection (a). (Acts 1987, No. 87-798, p. 1571.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-7.2 Additional Expense Allowances for Members of Council or Governing Body of Class 1 Municipalities.

11-43-7.2. Additional Expense Allowances for Members of Council or Governing Body of Class 1 Municipalities. (a) In addition to the authority granted by Section 11-43-7.1, the council or other governing body of any Class 1 municipality may grant to the members of the council or governing body, an additional amount of money monthly for expenses incurred by the members when attending to the business of the municipality within its corporate limits. The maximum amount of the additional expense allowance shall be three hundred thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents ($333.33) per month. (b) Notwithstanding all other provisions of law, any council or governing body member may elect in writing to have the expense allowances authorized by subsection (a) of this section and Section 11-43-7.1, become subject to the withholding of any employee contribution required to be paid into the trust fund of any pension or retirement system in which the member is eligible to participate. A council or governing body member may also elect in writing, within 90 days of May 4, 1994, to pay into the pension or retirement system trust fund the required contribution on any expense allowances previously received by the member during all or any portion of the three-year period prior to the member’s payment election, together with interest at the rate of eight percent per annum thereon computed from the date of receipt of the allowance to the date of payment. If either or both of the elections is made by a member of the governing body or council, the expense allowances on which employee contributions are paid into the retirement plan trust fund shall be considered together with all salaries received by the member, from which the required employee contribution was likewise withheld and paid into the retirement trust fund, to determine the base amount on which any retirement benefits or allowances to which the council or governing body member may be entitled shall be computed as provided under the retirement system. (c) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prevent any member of the council or governing body from being reimbursed for actual expenses incurred by the member in connection with any travel on municipal business beyond the corporate limits of the municipality, and the amount incurred shall not accrue against the monetary amounts provided in subsection (a) of this section, nor shall the reimbursement for the amount incurred be eligible for pension system withholding or be considered in determining pension or retirement benefits or allowances. (Acts 1994, No. 94-715, p. 1387, §§1-3.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-7.3 Salary of Members of City Council of Class 1 Municipalities.

11-43-7.3. Salary of Members of City Council of Class 1 Municipalities. (a) This section shall relate to only any Class 1 municipality. (b) Effective beginning the term of office commencing in 2017, the annual salary for each member of the city council of the Class 1 municipality shall be set and adjusted each regular four-year term by the State Personnel Board, by determining the median household income of the city rounded up to the nearest thousand, to take effect on the first day of January of each new term. (c) The salary provided in subsection (b) shall constitute the total salary payable to the presiding officers and members of the city council, beginning with the term commencing immediately after any municipal election in 2017. (d) The city council of the Class 1 municipality may not increase, supplement, or otherwise enlarge the salary payable to the members of the city council. (Act 2017-275, §§1-3.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-8 Establishment of Salaries of Municipal Officers.

11-43-8. Establishment of Salaries of Municipal Officers. The salaries of all officers of cities or towns except aldermen and councilmen shall be fixed by the municipal council or other governing body, but if there is a salary limit for such officers provided in the charter or laws governing the city or town, the same shall not be altered or changed above such salary limit except by a two-thirds vote of all members elected to said municipal council or other governing body of such cities or towns and by and with the consent of the mayor. (Code 1907, §1456; Code 1923, §2312; Code 1940, T. 37, §409.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-9 Fees, Salary, Compensation, Etc., of Officers Not to Be Increased or Diminished During Term of Office.

11-43-9. Fees, Salary, Compensation, Etc., of Officers Not to Be Increased or Diminished During Term of Office. The fees, salary, compensation, or emoluments of any officer whose election or appointment is required or authorized by the applicable provisions of this title shall not be increased nor diminished during the term for which he shall have been elected or appointed, and no gratuitous appropriation in any case shall be made to or for the benefit of any officer or employee in addition to his salary. (Code 1907, §1257; Code 1923, §1998; Code 1940, T. 37, §411.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-10 Municipal Officers to Pay Over Public Moneys Received; Daily Balances Required.

11-43-10. Municipal Officers to Pay Over Public Moneys Received; Daily Balances Required. Officers of any municipality collecting or receiving moneys of the municipality shall pay such moneys over to the city or town treasurer instanter, daily balances in all cases being required. (Code 1907, §1190; Code 1923, §1906; Code 1940, T. 37, §412.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-11 Employment of Municipal Officers by Corporations Holding Franchises as to Use of Streets.

11-43-11. Employment of Municipal Officers by Corporations Holding Franchises as to Use of Streets. No officer of any municipality shall, during his term of office, be an officer nor be employed in a managerial capacity, professionally or otherwise, by any corporation holding or operating a franchise granted by the city or the state involving the use of the streets of the municipality. This section shall not apply to or affect any attorney or physician employed by the municipality, and any municipality incorporated or organized under any general, special, or local law of the State of Alabama may employ an attorney or physician or attorneys or physicians employed by a public utility. (Code 1907, §1457; Code 1923, §2313; Code 1940, T. 37, §413; Acts 1953, No. 326, p. 383; Acts 1959, No. 547, p. 1354; Acts 1976, No. 685, p. 948.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-12 Aldermen, Employees, Etc., Not to Be Interested, Etc., in Municipal Contracts, Etc.; Penalty.

11-43-12. Aldermen, Employees, Etc., Not to Be Interested, Etc., in Municipal Contracts, Etc.; Penalty. (a) No alderman or officer or employee of the municipality shall be directly or indirectly interested in any work, business or contract, the expense, price or consideration of which is paid from the treasury, nor shall any member of the council or officer of the municipality be surety for any person having a contract, work or business with such municipality for the performance of which a surety may be required. (b) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $50.00 nor more than $1,000.00, and may also be sentenced to hard labor for the county for not more than six months. (Code 1907, §1194; Acts 1909, No. 200, p. 197; Code 1923, §§1910, 5084; Code 1940, T. 37, §§414, 432.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-12.1 Purchase of Services or Personal Property by Class 7 or 8 Municipalities from Elected Officials, Employees, or Members of Municipal Boards.

11-43-12.1. Purchase of Services or Personal Property by Class 7 or 8 Municipalities from Elected Officials, Employees, or Members of Municipal Boards. (a) Notwithstanding any statute or law to the contrary, any municipality in Class 7 or 8 may legally purchase from any of the elected officials of such municipality or employees of such municipality or board members of municipal boards organized under statutory authority by or for such municipality, any personal service or personal property, provided the elected official, employee, or board member is the only domiciled vendor of the personal service or personal property within the municipality, and such elected official, employee, or board member may legally sell such personal service or personal property to the municipality. The cost or value of such personal service or personal property authorized to be obtained or purchased under this section shall in no event exceed the sum of $3,000.00. The elected official, employee, or board member, if he proposes to sell to the municipality, shall not participate in the decision-making process determining the purchase of such personal service or personal property but shall make any disclosure required by the provisions of the code of ethics for public officials, found in Chapter 25 of Title 36. The governing body of such municipality shall determine and find that the elected official, employee, or board member, from whom the purchase is to be made, is the sole vendor domiciled in the municipality and that the selling price of such service or property is lower than could be obtained from a vendor domiciled outside the municipality, and, in making such determination, consideration may be given to the quality of service or property proposed to be supplied, conformity with specifications, purposes for which required, terms of delivery, transportation charges, and the date of delivery. (b) Notwithstanding any statute or law to the contrary, any municipality in Class 7 or 8 may legally purchase from any of the elected officials, employee, or board member of such municipality any personal service or personal property under the Competitive Bid Law procedures established by Article 3, Chapter 16, Title 41, and such elected officials, employee, or board member may legally sell such personal service or personal property to such municipality under the procedures of said statutes. The elected official, employee, or board member, if he proposes to bid, shall not participate in the decision-making process determining the need for or the purchase of such personal service or personal property, or in the determination of the successful bidder, and the governing body shall affirmatively find that the elected official, employee, or board member, from whom the purchase is to be made, is the lowest responsible bidder as required by said statutes. It shall be the duty and responsibility of the municipality to file a copy of any contract awarded to any of its elected officials, employees, or board members with the State Ethics Commission and all awards shall be a result of original bid takings. It is the intention of the Legislature by the adoption of this section to specifically remove any statutory or legal prohibitions against municipalities, in Classes 7 and 8, dealing with their elected officials, employees, or board members in the purchase of personal services or personal property. (c) In the event an elected official, employee, or board member offers to sell or submit a bid to the municipality for the sale of personal property or a contract for furnishing personal services, the said official, employee, or board member shall make full disclosure of his ownership or extent of ownership in the business organization with which he is associated. In the event the business organization is a partnership, the names and addresses and percentage of ownership of the partners shall be disclosed and, in the event the business organization is a corporation, the names and addresses and percentage of ownership of all stockholders shall be disclosed. The disclosure required hereunder shall be made, under oath of the elected official, employee, or board member, in the original submission to the municipality and in like manner in any contract or agreement entered into with the municipality. (Acts 1981, No. 81-345, p. 501; Acts 1987, No. 87-779, p. 1530, §1.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-13 Bonds of Certain Municipal Officers or Employees.

11-43-13. Bonds of Certain Municipal Officers or Employees. All officers or employees handling money or exercising authority over property of municipalities shall, before entering upon the discharge of their duties, give bond, with surety to be approved by the mayor, in such penalty as the council may prescribe, conditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office and faithfully to account for all moneys received. (Code 1907, §1189; Code 1923, §1905; Code 1940, T. 37, §415.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-14 Dealing, Etc., in Warrants, Claims, Etc., of Municipality by Officers or Employees.

11-43-14. Dealing, Etc., in Warrants, Claims, Etc., of Municipality by Officers or Employees. It shall be unlawful for any officer or employee of a town or city, himself or through any person, to deal or traffic in any manner whatever in any warrant, claim or liability against the town or city, and any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00. If any person so violating the foregoing provisions is the mayor or any member of the council or any city board, he shall be subject to impeachment. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent any officer from selling a claim he may acquire directly from the town or city in payment of a debt due him or from purchasing in good faith so much of such claims as may be sufficient to pay his taxes and licenses for the current year. (Code 1907, §7444; Code 1923, §5036; Code 1940, T. 37, §416.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-15 False Enumeration of Municipal Census.

11-43-15. False Enumeration of Municipal Census. Any enumerator of census for a municipality who willfully causes a false enumeration to be made, knowing the same to be false, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00 and also may be sentenced to hard labor for the county for not more than six months. (Code 1907, §7454; Code 1923, §5046; Code 1940, T. 37, §417.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-16 Employment of County Deputy Sheriffs as Policemen.

11-43-16. Employment of County Deputy Sheriffs as Policemen. Incorporated municipalities are authorized and permitted to employ as policemen, on a part-time basis, deputy sheriffs of a county in which the municipality is located. The governing body of the municipality employing such deputy sheriffs shall fix by ordinance the duties and salaries of such persons. In addition, the municipality may require that any person or persons so employed be residents of the employing municipality. (Acts 1971, No. 2235, p. 3592.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-17 Ratification of Certain Salaries of Mayors and Councilmen.

11-43-17. Ratification of Certain Salaries of Mayors and Councilmen. The salary of any mayor or councilman prescribed prior to February 12, 1980, by the council of the municipality in which they serve is hereby validated and ratified. (Acts 1980, No. 80-94, p. 140, §9.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-18 Vacancies of Over 60 Days in Governing Bodies of Class 5 Municipalities.

11-43-18. Vacancies of Over 60 Days in Governing Bodies of Class 5 Municipalities. (a) Unless otherwise provided by local law, vacancies in the governing bodies of all Class 5 municipalities which have existed for more than 60 days shall be filled as herein provided: (1) If the vacated term has less than six months remaining, then the remaining members of the city governing body shall appoint a successor by a majority vote of those members voting. In case of a tie vote, the mayor, if there is one, shall cast the tie-breaking vote. The successor shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term until a successor has been qualified and elected. (2) If the term has been declared vacant and has six months or more remaining, the mayor, if there is one, otherwise the senior member of the city governing body, shall call for a special election to fill the vacancy. The successor shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term until a successor has been qualified and elected. (b) Special elections called pursuant to this section shall be conducted as provided by the general laws of this state regarding municipal elections. (c) The procedures provided in this section shall be used, unless otherwise provided by local law, for any vacancies existing on or after May 7, 1981. (Acts 1981, No. 81-440, p. 763.)

Ala. Code § 11-43-19 Retirement Pensions for Certain Elected Public Officials of Class 2 Municipalities.

11-43-19. Retirement Pensions for Certain Elected Public Officials of Class 2 Municipalities. In any Class 2 municipality in this state, any elected public official of such municipality, or any former elected public official of such municipality, who has served as an elected official of such municipality for a total of eight years or more, and who in addition thereto has served as an elected public official of the county within which said municipality is located, for not less than 10 years, and who has attained the age of 64 years and has retired from such service or if he shall have heretofore retired from such service, shall, upon May 4, 1982, receive a pension from the municipality, which pension shall be in an amount of $600.00 per month. (b) This retirement pension shall be paid to such retired official by said municipality out of the general fund of said municipality in equal monthly installments commencing on the first day of the second month after his retirement, each such monthly payment to be for the last previous month, and shall continue until his death. (Acts 1982, No. 82-477, p. 797, §§1, 2.)

Source: Alabama Legislature (alison.legislature.state.al.us)URL: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabamaFetched: 10/20/2026