2024 Birmingham budget
The 2023-2024 Birmingham budget includes the operating budget for the City of Birmingham for the fiscal year July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024 as well as a capital projects budget.
Mayor Randall Woodfin announced his budget proposal for $554,805,617 on May 16, 2023. It proposed a $37.8 million (7.3%) increase over the $517,017,654 2023 budget as it was originally approved, but $7.8 million (1.4%) drop from the $563 million actually spent that year after numerous budget amendments reflecting a surplus from the 2022 budget. The budget total reflects significant federal funds allocated by the American Rescue Plan Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Among the priorities of the 2024 budget proposal were cost-of-living, merit-based and longevity-based raises for city employees and an increase in city funding for transit services including BJCTA, Birmingham On-Demand, Clas Tran and Birmingham Xpress, climbing to $16.8 million as compared to $12.5 million in 2023 and $5.7 million in 2022.
Woodfin proposed a $2.4 million increase for the Birmingham Department of Parks and Recreation. The Birmingham Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity would see a $700,000 boost, including $2.42 million for economic incentives to businesses. $15 million was budgeted for street paving projects. Birmingham Public Library saw a 6.3% budget increase from $14.6 million to $15.5 million.
A proposed $5.5 million increase for public safety brought that allocation to $284.9 million, or just over half of the total budget. Within that category, the budget allocation for the Birmingham Police Department was reduced slightly from $118.5 million in the amended 2023 budget to $115.3 million in 2024.
In addition to renewing a $2 million earmark for Birmingham City Schools to implement financial literacy and conflict resolution programs, the budget added another $1 million to fund mental health services support at schools.
Appropriations to city-owned facilities included $1 million for the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute; $944,000 for Railroad Park;, $525,000 for Vulcan Park; $500,000 for the Birmingham Zoo; $250,000 each for Rickwood Field, Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve, and Red Mountain Park; $175,000 for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Among the capital projects outlined in the Mayor's budget included:
- $5 million for vehicle and rolling equipment purchases
- $3.9 million for streetscape improvements on Green Springs Highway
- $3 million to address deferred maintenance through the Birmingham Department of Public Works
- $1.3 million to upgrade dormitory areas at 24 of 32 fire stations.
- $2.5 million streetscape / recreation path improvements to Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard South between Five Points Circle and Vulcan Trail
- $2.6 million for streetscape and pedestrian improvements to 2nd Avenue South between 24th and 32nd streets.
- $2,4 million for streetscape and drainage improvements to 41st Street South
- 50% split with Mountain Brook to construct a roundabout at the intersection of Cahaba Road, Lane Parke Road and Culver Road at the southern end of Lane Park.
- $6 million for further restoration phases at the A. G. Gaston Motel
- $700,000 for structural repairs at Rickwood Field
- $296,393 for renovations to the City Council Chambers at Birmingham City Hall
- $150,383 for painting and exterior repairs at Arlington Antebellum Home & Garden
- multiple drainage, infrastructure, street resurfacing and other projects across the city.
Many of those projects were funded with grants already awarded.
City Council approval
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.
In the days before the Council's scheduled vote, three members: Valerie Abbott, Darrell O'Quinn and Hunter Williams, expressed dissatisfaction that funds for increased code enforcement hadn't been proposed. Despite those threats, the budget was approved as submitted by a unanimous vote on June 27.
References
- O'Leary, A. J. (May 16, 2023) "Inside Birmingham's FY2024 proposed $555M budget." Birmingham Business Journal
- Michaels, Ryan (May 17, 2023) "What’s Inside Mayor Woodfin’s Proposed $554 Million Budget for Birmingham" The Birmingham Times
- Bryant, Joseph D. (May 30, 2023) "Birmingham’s budgeting process creates power imbalance, critics say." AL.com
- Bryant, Joseph D. (June 27, 2023) "Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin could face rare opposition over $554 million budget for 2024." AL.com
- Bryant, Joseph D. (June 27, 2023) "Youth programs, street paving, pay increases included in Birmingham’s $554M budget for 2024." AL.com
External links
- 2024 Budget at birminghamal.gov