HUNTSVILLE — Prioritizing quality of life amenities while providing more money for road construction and maintenance and additional public safety personnel, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle has proposed an operating budget of more than $343 million.
The mayor’s proposed spending plan is $343,723,103, which includes $30,417,499 for 60 outside agencies and rolls forward $7,854,424 in savings from the 2025 fiscal year budget.
Battle will introduce the proposed 2026 fiscal year budget to the City Council at tonight’s meeting; it starts at 5:30 p.m.
“This budget reflects the growth of the city of Huntsville and our community’s needs that come out of that growth,” Battle said. “The city operates frugally and the money we are saving in the 2025 fiscal year can roll back into the budget for the upcoming year.”
As the city grows in population and land space, the budget authorizes the addition of 10 Huntsville Police employees. With three recreation centers opening in the 2026 fiscal year, the budget also increases funding for 31 new Parks & Recreation employees to serve those portions of our community.
“We are ensuring we have the best public safety to serve and protect our residents,” Battle said. “At the same time, we are continuing to provide more and better quality of life assets both through Parks & Recreation and expanding and maintaining our road network so residents can spend more time with their family and friends.”
Departmental Funding Highlights
- More than $18 million in street resurfacing
- New road construction improvement projects totaling $29.25 million
- Renovations at Dr. Richard Showers, Sr., Recreation Center and Goldsmith-Schiffman Field
- Road improvements and construction for Old Big Cove Road, Swancott Road, Winchester Road, Resolute Way (I-565 to Redstone Arsenal), Holmes Avenue and Old Monrovia Road
- Commercial redevelopment along Memorial Parkway North
- Phase I of North Huntsville Greenway
- Redevelopment investments for Choice Neighborhood Initiative (Mill Creek), Cummings Research Park and Ditto Landing
- 2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for City employees
- Improvements at Huntsville Depot Park
- Expansion of Big Spring Park East
The City Council will discuss the budget during a work session Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. and is expected to vote on the budget during their regular meeting on Sept. 25 at 5:30 p.m.
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