2022 Birmingham budget

The 2021-2022 Birmingham budget includes the operating budget for the City of Birmingham for the fiscal year July 1, 2021–June 30, 2022 as well as a capital projects budget.

Mayor Randall Woodfin announced his budget proposal for $455,517,344 on May 18, 2021. He anticipated that revenues would be restored to pre-pandemic levels, allowing for a 1.5% raise for city employees, a full annual contribution to public pensions, and the restoration of cuts to boards and agencies. Woodfin's proposal represented a $42,655,306 (10.33%) increase from the $412,862,038 2020-2021 budget and a $4,109,394 (0.91%) increase from the $451,407,950 2019–2020 budget.

Woodfin did not include $148.8 million in expected federal stimulus payments directed to the city under the American Rescue Plan. Proposals for using that money to offset pandemic-related losses would be part of a separate forthcoming proposal. The City Council has expressed the intent for much of that money to be steered toward neighborhoods.

Since the Mayor-Council Act was modified in 2016, the City Council must vote on the budget as it is presented to them, with any proposed changes approved by the Mayor beforehand.

At the close of the fiscal year, the city reported an $81 million budget surplus. In addition to better-than-expected sales tax revenues, a portion of the surplus came from not paying salaries for unfilled positions. A 5% salary increase in the 2023 Birmingham budget reflected both the surplus and the hiring drought.

City Council approval

The Council scheduled its first budget hearing for June 1. During debate, the council recommended that the Mayor's office increase allocations to the Birmingham Zoo and the Friends of Rickwood. The budget was approved by an 8-0 vote on June 29. Councilor Steven Hoyt was present, but did not vote. The mayor's office was represented at the meeting by deputy chief of operations Chaz Mitchell.

References

• Garrison, Greg (May 18, 2021) "Mayor proposes $455 million Birmingham budget, projects economic recovery." The Birmingham News
• Prickett, Sam (May 18, 2021) "Woodfin Promises “Recovery and Restoration” With Proposed FY 2022 Budget." BirminghamWatch
• Prickett, Sam (June 29, 2021) "Birmingham Council Passes the City’s Largest Budget Ever." BirminghamWatch
• Michaels, Ryan (July 1, 2021) "Woodfin on What $455M Budget Means for Police, Schools, Neighborhoods." The Birmingham Times
• Garrison, Greg (February 1, 2023) "Birmingham’s $81 million budget surplus means windfall for workers, facilities." AL.com

External links

• Budget 2022 at birminghamal.gov