Single Tax Corporation was still true to its founder’s beliefs and principles.Through the years, the Fairhope Single Tax Corporation has maintained the general beliefs of its founders. The Corporation is a non-profit, private landowning corporation that encourages diversity and respects each individual’s rights. Membership in the Single Tax Corporation is available anyone over the age of eighteen who believes in the principles of the Single Tax. An application must be approved and a $100 fee paid to become a member. Corporation lands are leased to members and nonmembers at an annually appraised rate and for a period of 99 years. Money collected in rent is used for public improvements. Whenever the Corporation opens up land for use it publishes a notice of availability. Anyone may apply for the land by signing an application and depositing an amount equal to the value of any Corporation owned improvements on the land plus not more than six months rent. Notice that Single Tax land has been applied for is posted for one week. Any other individual interested in the same land may apply and compete with the applicant by an offer of a bonus to the Corporation. The initial applicant is notified and given an opportunity to bid against his competitor. However, bonuses have been fairly rare. The Fairhope Single Tax Corporation imposes no restrictions on the use of its lands. The aim of the Single Tax Corporation is to make land available to the entire community, both for recreation and for the location of homes and businesses. The Single Tax Corporation has continued educating the public through a course on the single tax concept. Would the founders of Fairhope, Gaston, Bellangee, and Fels be pleased with the results of their experiment? The Single Tax Corporation has managed to maintain its holdings and to provide services to the community. It enjoys a vital friendship with the City of Fairhope and continues to operate on the unselfi...
