Battle introduces balanced budget for Huntsville for 2025 fiscal year

HUNTSVILLE — Addressing an increased demand for services while foreseeing slower revenue growth for the state’s largest city, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle introduced a balanced budget Thursday night for the 2025 fiscal year.

The mayor proposed a balanced $328,166,362 operating budget, which includes $33,059,674 in special appropriations for 57 outside agencies.

“This budget is designed to meet growth expectations for increased demand in municipal programs and services, and to take a measured, restrained approach to expenditures,” Battle said. “Ultimately, the proposed budget reflects many hours of thoughtful and prudent decision-making by our administrative team to present a balanced budget.”

The City Council will hold a work session next Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to review the proposed budget and is expected to vote on the budget at its regular meeting Sept. 26.

The budget addresses infrastructure demands of a growing city by expansion of the police and fire departments as well as improved roads.

Affordable housing is another priority reflected in the budget, and the city continues to find creative and impactful ways to make housing sustainable and homeownership an attainable goal for residents.

“Reflected in this budget is an anticipation that while revenues will remain strong, we expect a slower growth rate than in previous years,” Battle said. “This budget recognizes and meets the demands and expectations of a growing, progressive city, but allows flexibility to adapt to larger economic trends should revenues fall short of projections.”

Departmental Funding Highlights of the FY25 Budget

• $18.3M for street resurfacing
• 5% increase in sidewalk construction funding
• $2.2M for the Makers’ Space construction at the Robert Shurney Legacy Center
• Parks and recreational projects, including expansion of Big Spring Park and the Wilcoxon Municipal Ice Complex
• 2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for City employees
• $30.1 million in road improvements for Eastern Bypass, Northern Bypass (U.S. 231 to Winchester Road), Winchester Road widening, Old Big Cove Road, Resolute Way (I-565 to Redstone Arsenal) and Holmes Avenue
• Drainage improvements for areas around Broglan Branch, Spring Branch, Pinhook Creek and Five Points
• Affordable housing efforts — Choice Neighborhood Initiative (Mill Creek phase 1)
• Multiple greenway improvements
• Cummings Research Park Master Plan improvements
• North Memorial Parkway real estate investment for new retail developments.