Tallapoosa County Commission candidate Robert McCollum releases plan to eliminate the grocery taxes.

February 20, 2026 – DADEVILLE, Ala. - Robert McCollum, Republican candidate for Tallapoosa County Commission District 4, announced his platform – which includes a bold plan to eliminate the county's portion of the grocery sales tax.

"Families in Tallapoosa County are feeling the squeeze every time they check out at the grocery store," said McCollum in a statement. "Food is a necessity, not a luxury. As your County Commissioner, I will work to eliminate the county's portion of the grocery tax and put that money back where it belongs - in the pockets of our citizens."

A Responsible, Conservative Plan for Tax Relief

McCollum's proposal calls for:

McCollum is calling for a full financial review of county finances to determine the total revenue generated from the county's grocery tax and identify responsible pathways to eliminate it without jeopardizing essential services.

McCollum proposes a structured phase-out of the grocery tax over a defined timeline to ensure that the county budget remains balanced and essential services such as public safety, road maintenance, and emergency response remain fully funded.

McCollum promises to reviewing discretionary spending, eliminate wasteful expenditures, prioritizing core services, and encouraging economic growth to broaden the tax base.

"As Republicans, we believe in limited government, fiscal responsibility, and protecting working families," McCollum stated. "We can provide tax relief while maintaining strong public services by managing our resources wisely."

McCollum believes eliminating the county's portion of the grocery tax will: help seniors on fixed incomes, support working families, strengthen local purchasing power, and will encourage residents to shop locally.

"Every dollar matters," McCollum said. "This isn't about politics - it's about fairness. Government should not be profiting from the basic need to feed your family."

The state legislature has been dramatically reducing the state sales taxes on groceries, but has left counties and cities to set their own policies on the taxation of food. The state slashed its four percent tax on food to 3 percent in 2023 and then came back and cut the remaining state sales tax 33% to just 2 percent. Despite this in some cities Alabamians still pay nine percent or more tax on food due to the exorbitant county and municipal food taxes.

If elected, McCollum promised that he will:

Host public forums and town halls on the proposal, invite citizen input before any vote, ensure full transparency throughout the ordinance process, and work collaboratively with fellow commissioners to build consensus.

"This will be done the right way - openly, responsibly, and with the people's voice at the center of the discussion," McCollum stated.

Robert McCollum says that he is running to bring conservative leadership, financial accountability, and practical solutions to Tallapoosa County Commission District 4. He says that his grocery tax elimination plan reflects his commitment to reducing burdens on families while safeguarding the county's financial health.

"Tallapoosa County deserves leadership that understands working families," McCollum said. "As your Commissioner, I will fight to lower taxes, protect essential services, and make our county stronger for the next generation."

McCollum has previously floated a proposal to eliminate the property tax that residents pay to Tallapoosa County.

District 4 incumbent commissioner Emma Jean Thweatt has decided not to seek reelection.

Kevin Thweatt (Emma's son) and Rod Siggers are also running in the Republican primary for District 4 county commissioner.