2018 Birmingham budget

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The 2017-2018 Birmingham budget includes the operating budget for the City of Birmingham for the fiscal year July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018 as well as a capital projects budget.

Mayor's proposed budget

Mayor William Bell submitted a proposed FY2018 budget on May 16 which totaled approximately $428 million, or about $3 million more than the $424,858,869 2017 Birmingham budget passed by the Birmingham City Council, but also around $3 million less than was actually spent the previous year. Counting unbudgeted spending and actual reported revenues of only $421.8 million, the city finished FY2017 on a deficit, which was made up by transferring around $10 million in capital from the city's fund balance.

The Mayor's proposal included a 5% merit raise for eligible city employees along with an across-the-board 1% cost of living adjustment. He proposed the same raises the previous year, but only the 1% COLA was passed. The operational budget for the Birmingham Police Department remained unchanged, but the budget proposal earmarked $1.5 million for new vehicles and $300,000 for a community policing program. For the Birmingham Department of Public Works, $1.5 million was allocated to continue "Operation Green Wave" and another $1.5 million for demolition of condemned buildings. Special funding for Birmingham City Schools in the city's budget included $500,000 for a proposed reading initiative. Another $500,000 was allocated to fund the city's "Healthy Food Initiative", which provides vouchers for groceries for low-income families.

$16.6 million of the 2018 budget was allocated for debt service, and $11.1 million is earmarked for transportation. City owned properties, including Railroad Park and the Birmingham Zoo are set to split $4.8 million in appropriations while $4.2 million was set aside for contracted organizations, including the UAB Blazers football team, the Vulcan Park Foundation, REV Birmingham. The Magic City Classic is set to receive $705,000 alone. Another $2.1 million was included for "other services," which includes city-funded events and marketing.

The mayor's office itself, with a full staff of 101 employees, projects an operating budget of $10,205,618. The Birmingham City Clerk's office was set to receive $1,975,262, including $40,000 for new furnishings. The mayor's proposal for funding City Council operations at $3.65 million includes $417,985 for consulting fees, a 39% decrease from 2017. It does not include the higher cost of compensation for City Council members set to go into effect in January 2018.

The capital projects budget included outlays for development of the Ensley Public Safety Municipal Complex, the OnePratt Superblock, the CrossPlex, Maxine Herring Parker Bridge, the A. G. Gaston Motel restoration and other development of the Civil Rights District. Also included was $9 million for street resurfacing, and $10 million for park renovations, including work at Legion Field.

Council hearings

The first Birmingham City Council hearing on the proposed budget was held on June 14. The meeting began late for lack of a quorum, and was not attended by the Mayor. Birmingham Public Library president Gwendolyn Welch made an appeal for additional funds for repairs at the Central Branch. Bill Cather spoke on behalf of the Friends of Rickwood to ask for compensation for lost revenue due to the field's emergency closure. Roebuck Springs neighborhood president Frank Hamby petitioned the city to demolish the former Banks High School and resident Jerry Tate asked the council to increase funding to Birmingham City Schools. Council members expressed sympathy, but no actions were taken.

References

External links

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=2018_Birmingham_budget&oldid=137950"