Alabama legislator: Divert taxes for hospital to pay sewer debt

An Alabama lawmaker wants Jefferson County to divert sales tax dollars earmarked for Cooper Green Mercy Hospital to help pay down the county's $3.2 billion sewer debt. Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, said his proposed legislation is a good way to resolve the sewer-debt crisis without any additional burden on taxpayers. The measure would remove a guaranteed funding source for Cooper Green, although Beason said he believed the County Commission would find money from elsewhere in the general fund for the hospital.