FLORENCE -- A draft bill for a proposed half-cent sales tax increase has been returned, and county officials will begin advertising it this week, officials said.

During the Lauderdale County Commission meeting Monday, county attorney Chris Smith notified commissioners that the draft of the resolution, passed earlier this month, has been returned and is ready for advertising.

The bill calls for a half-cent sales tax to fund an economic development fund.

County officials said the bill must be advertised for four consecutive weeks before it can be introduced by the Alabama-Legislature.

Smith said the draft is in essence two bills -- one calling for the half-cent sales tax and the second creating the Shoals Industrial Development Committee that will oversee proceeds from the sales tax if it passes.

The committee will be composed of elected officials from the two counties.

The money can only be used to provide inducements for recruitment of new industry, acquisition and development of land for industrial parks, construction of buildings for lease to industries, support for expansion of existing industry in the Shoals and funding operations of the Shoals Economic Development Authority.

The resolution notes that no more than 10 percent of the annual revenue generated by the sales tax may be directed to SEDA's operating budget.

In other action, the commission unanimously:

authorized payment of $5,000 appropriation to the W.C. Handy Festival.

approved subdivision plats for Fisher's Hollow Phase 5 on Cow Pen Road and Antler Ridge Subdivision in Greenhill near Lauderdale 34 and Lauderdale 73.

accepted a bid of $1,437.99 from CWD Government Inc., of Vernon Hill, Ill., for a laptop-computer for the sheriff's-department.

accepted a 1998 Ford Expedition into the sheriff's patrol fleet. The vehicle was donated by the Sheriff's Reserves.

approved an EMA Cooperative agreement for a 2007 Performance Grant of $40,530. The money is through Homeland Security.

discussed and approved the formation of a Emergency Medical Service Committee that will help develop bid specifications and be an oversight committee once the contracts are approved.

The commission also heard from Florence Councilman Scott Carrier who was passing on concerns from members of the American Legion about the possibility of making the Veterans Affairs office more accessible.

Commission Chairman Dewey Mitchell said the commission will keep that in mind as they start the restructuring and moving some offices to the First Southern Building that is jointly owned by the county and city of Florence.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.