The City of Mobile is joining a lawsuit against Alabama Department of Revenue Commissioner Vernon Barnett, escalating a growing legal fight over how the state collects and distributes revenue from online purchases under the Simplified Sellers Use Tax (SSUT).

In a news release from Mobile on Monday, Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis said Mobile is “losing $34 million a year” under SSUT and warned the impact will grow as e-commerce expands.

“If we continue to allow local dollars to be redistributed across the state, cities like Mobile will not be able to maintain the services citizens expect and rely on every day,” Cheriogotis said.

“Mobilians’ tax dollars should be reinvested in their own community to enhance public safety, support economic development and improve local infrastructure. Instead, we

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