Woodfin Presents $455 Million Proposed Operating Budget
Mayor Randall Woodfin presented his proposed operating budget to the Birmingham City Council Tuesday.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin proposed a $455 million budget Tuesday that included employee pay raises and neighborhood revitalization initiatives. It’s the largest proposed budget in the city’s history. Tuesday’s City Council meeting kicked off the annual budget discussions for the next fiscal year.
“We stand at a moment of recovery and restoration,” Woodfin said in a statement. “This budget represents our shared priorities of neighborhood revitalization and fiscal responsibility with an eye toward investing in our future through proven initiatives like Birmingham Promise. This plan supports our departments’ efforts to provide efficient and effective services to the residents of our city.”
Merit pay increases for city employees, longevity pay, and a living adjustment salary increase of 1.5% make up the biggest share of the fiscal 2022 budget. Woodfin also noted continued investment into the city’s neighborhoods, including repaving roads and a $300,000 recycling program.
During the meeting, Woodfin said the proposed budget does not include federal coronavirus relief aid.
“In addition to this operating budget, the city will be moving forward on a separate track with the Magic City Recovery supported by the funds provided through the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan,” he said.
The budget proposal fully restores funding to boards and agencies at a total of $22,500,000. The city cut funding to several groups last year amid a $63 million revenue shortfall sparked by the pandemic. Railroad Park, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and Red Mountain Theatre are among the groups that will have their budgets restored.
Councilman Hunter Williams thanked the mayor for the $10 million allocation for road resurfacing.
“Over the past 30 years we’ve gotten extremely behind in our infrastructure allocation every single fiscal year,” Williams said. “And it’s something we all inherited, but it’s something we’re on the right path on fixing.”
There will be a public hearing for the proposed budget on June 1. The fiscal year starts July 1.
In addition to the budget proposal, the city council approved the redevelopment of Palisades Shopping Center.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2022 Budget by WBHM News on Scribd
Crew of fatal US military crash included Alabama father recently deployed
The six U.S. service members who died in the crash of a U.S. military refueling aircraft included an Alabama father who had just been promoted and deployed. The U.S. government released the identities of the deceased service members Saturday.
Alabama poised to drastically overhaul utility regulation. Will it lower electric bills?
The Alabama Senate unanimously voted to expand the public service commission, and create a Secretary of Energy to address rising electricity prices. A bill in the House would go even further, requiring rate case hearings and limiting utility profits.
Musher from Alabama is going for back-to-back Iditarod wins
Riches and paid appearances haven’t followed Jessie Holmes since he won the world’s most famous sled dog race, the Iditarod, last year. He doesn't mind.
Bill would move Alabama to closed primaries
Right now, any Alabama voter can participate in a primary election. Lawmakers in Montgomery took up a bill this week that would change that system.
Auburn football player uses NIL funds to open a community hub in Birmingham
Jourdin Crawford, a freshman defensive lineman at Auburn, used earnings from a Name, Image, and Likeness deal to give back to his hometown.
Ivey commutes death sentence of inmate whose accomplice fired fatal shot
Charles “Sonny” Burton was sentenced to death for the killing of Doug Battle during a 1991 robbery. However, another man shot Battle when Burton had left the building.
