Mayor Battle introduces balanced budget for FY 2024
Published on September 14, 2023
Mayor Tommy Battle introduced the City’s proposed Fiscal Year 2024 budget at the Sept. 14 regular meeting of the Huntsville City Council.
The Mayor proposed a balanced $312,814,218 operating budget, which includes $33,053,691 million in special appropriations for 67 outside agencies.
“As Huntsville continues its growth and expansion, so do the demands from our community on City services,” Mayor Battle said. “The FY 24 budget meets this demand by incorporating ideas and innovative solutions to new challenges from City departments as they serve our citizens each day.”
Mayor Battle said the proposed budget focuses on quality-of-life services, such as expanded garbage collection and public transit services, along with new and upgraded roads to retain favorable commute times.
“We’re proposing more investment in more road improvement projects and street resurfacing,” he said. “As we look into the future, our budget accommodates the Northern Bypass, Eastern Bypass and Big Cove Road, among others. Such investments and the continued commitment to street resurfacing will help maintain the reasonable travel times our community enjoys.”
Among the proposed capital projects are expansions of the Ice Complex and Big Spring Park; Ditto Landing, PARC greenway, and the Mill Creek Choice Neighborhood Initiative.
Departmental Funding Highlights of the FY24 Budget
- Increased Fire & Rescue personnel
- New ladder truck at Fire Station #17 in Hampton Cove
- Increased Police personnel
- Increased Public Transit personnel to implement Phase I of its new service plan (new routes and Sunday service)
- Additional sanitation routes and increased personnel
- New Parks and Recreation positions for Therapeutic Recreation Leaders to provide specialized programming for people with differing abilities
- 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for City employees
- Parking garages to support tourism economy at The Orion Amphitheater and Apollo Park, downtown to support the Von Braun Center, and at John Hunt Park
- Ice Plex expansion
- Big Spring Park expansion
- Ditto Landing improvements
- PARC greenway
- Mill Creek Choice Neighborhood Initiative
Following the introduction, Council members will hold a work session on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 5 p.m., to review the budget in greater detail. This meeting will be broadcast live on HSV TV. The budget is up for final approval at the Council’s regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 28, in time for the Oct. 1 start of the 2024 fiscal year.
VIEW THE PROPOSED BUDGET
Proposed Fiscal Year 2024 City of Huntsville Budget
Proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Outside Agency Allocations
Please visit the City’s Finance and Budget web pages for additional information.