(a)(1) In addition to any penalty imposed by law for the late payment of ad valorem taxes in Etowah County, the Etowah County Commission, by ordinance, may impose an additional administrative late payment penalty in an amount not to exceed two dollars ($2) per day and not to exceed a total of three hundred dollars ($300) on that portion of ad valorem taxes due to the county as prescribed on each bill of assessment distributed to property owners in the county.
(2) The additional administrative late payment penalty imposed for late payment of the county portion of any ad valorem taxes due shall be administered and collected in the same manner as now prescribed by law for any existing delinquent payment penalties on taxes including the placement of liens on properties on which payment of the taxes may be delinquent.
(3) It is the express intent of this section that the additional administrative late payment penalty shall apply only to the county portion of any ad valorem taxes due and payable as provided by law and that the additional administrative late payment penalty shall not be applicable to any state or other local ad valorem taxes due and payable as provided by law.
(b) The proceeds of the additional administrative late payment penalty on the county ad valorem taxes imposed by this section shall be distributed as follows: (1) 12.5 percent to the Etowah County Revenue Commissioner's Special Fund for the payment of reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the official duties of the office of the revenue commissioner.
(2) 40 percent to the Etowah County Commission to be used only for the advancement, development, and promotion of the Little Canoe Creek Megasite for a period of 12 years except as otherwise provided in this section. After a period of 12 years following May 7, 2021, or after the Little Canoe Creek Megasite is sold, leased, or is otherwise under a state project agreement, the Etowah County Commission, by majority vote, may use this revenue towards other projects related to industrial recruitment and economic development.
(3) 47.5 percent to the Etowah County Commission to be used only for the maintenance, improvement, replacement, and construction of roads and bridges in the county.