City council debates $236 million city budget

City council debates $236 million city budget

Day over the past week.

New information -- better streets - coronavirus - taxes - employee raises - even a new city hall were among the topics tonight as the huntsville city council spent hours working on the city's proposed budget for the 2021 fiscal year.

The 236-million dollar budget is an 8-point-1 million dollar increase from last year's fiscal plan.

Waay31's megan reyna is live outside city hall... she explains how the council responded to the plan -- and why the mayor is confident it suits our growing city, megan?

Even as the city takes about a 15 million dollar revenue hit due to the pandemic -- tonight mayor tommy battle spoke confidently about the continued growth in this city.

He said this budget will be balanced.

And every council member seemed to be on board with it as well.

Battle says:"we will be able to make revenue equal expenditure this year, which i think is admirable, every one of the department heads need to be congratulated on that."

For the past 12 years the city of huntsville has been able to put together a balanced budget -- and this year is no exception.

City officials say that's because when the pandemic hit --the city of huntsville put a limited hiring freeze in place -- and operating budgets were cut by five percent.

Penny smith says:"we are still sliding into home and as the mayor just said, we are going to be on budget."

Finance director penny smith explained to council that lodging and retail sales taxes took the largest hit due to the pandemic.

But mayor battle said those losses were made up elsewhere -- with sales taxes coming in from big retailers.

Battle says:"we're seeing a budget that will continue to grow, we're seeing ourselves be able to do a little bit better than what we thought at the very first."

Some key proposals include a one percent pay increase for city employees.

A new fire station for west huntsville -- which includes 9 new additional employees.

More than 10 million in street resurfacing and 26 million for street construction.

Battle says:"roads which provide for more capacity, more people to get from home to work."

Then -- a big topic among council -- a new city hall.

The current city hall is 56 years old.

This budget sets aside more than 46 million dollars for municipal facilities -- including a new city hall.

John hamilton says:"we do gain lots of savings by eliminating leases, by consolidating employees that are currently scattered among other buildings."

Overall -- council members are optimistic about a budget they beleive allows for growth.

Culver says:"you all have done an outstanding job with this budget considering all of the calamities that you deal with and/are still dealing with."

Council is expected to vote on the budget next thursday.

The next fiscal year starts on october first.

Reporting live in hsv mr