Huntsville City Council approves $328M balanced budget

HUNTSVILLE — With an emphasis on roads and streets, plus an increase in sidewalk construction, the Huntsville City Council approved a balanced operating budget at its regular meeting Thursday.

The $328,166,362 budget for Fiscal Year 2025 was introduced at the Sept. 12 Council meeting by Mayor Tommy Battle.

The spending plan did include two amendments: The Council’s discretionary fund increased from $375,000 to $500,000 and the Council voted to contribute $150,000 to the Food Bank of North Alabama to offset expenses incurred for its new building campaign.

To cover the increase and remain within a balanced budget, the Council voted to reduce a bridge repair fund by $125,000 and to reduce the road resurfacing budget by $150,000.

The approved budget also included $33,059,674 in special appropriations for 57 outside agencies.

“We anticipate a tighter revenue stream this coming year and we’ve worked hard to belt-tighten across all our departments while still providing for growth and the high-quality services our residents expect,” said Battle.

FY25 Budget Highlights  

• $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
• $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 for city employees
• 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

The city’s fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

To view the budget, click here. More information is available on the Finance & Budget webpage.