THURSDAY UPDATE: Severance tax to be used for roads, not economic development

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
The Franklin County Commission passed a resolution Thursday morning to support a House bill that would earmark the county's severance tax to be used for road repairs, rather than economic development.
The county has used its severance tax for economic development since its creation in 2004.
Officials with the Franklin County Development Authority said the move is a devastating blow to the county's efforts to recruit industry.
"It's like putting a big 'closed for business' sign up on the county," said authority chairman Glen Vinson.
Commissioners said they want to meet with all local agencies and government bodies to find another way of funding the authority.
Continue to check www.fct.wpengine.com or pick up a copy of Saturday's Franklin County Times for more on this story.