Mayor Woodfin’s Proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2024
The City of Birmingham is in a time of unprecedented investment in our community. Our economic outlook is strong and we have already dedicated $60 million from a budget surplus to invest in our people, neighborhoods and facilities. We are leveraging the more than $140 million provided by the Biden-Harris administration’s American Rescue Plan Act to make an impact in our community. Let’s not forget the opportunities that remain from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and our aggressive efforts to land federal grants to support our neighborhoods. My proposed operating budget combined with these additional funding resources will provide an opportunity for us to invest in our shared priorities, enhance our current efforts and position Birmingham for continued growth.
This $554 million dollar budget enhances our laser focus commitment on neighborhoods and our youth, builds upon our momentum in public transportation like never before and strengthens our efforts to competitively recruit in the public safety sector. All of this while funding the services the city provides to our residents and businesses.
Read Mayor Woodfin’s complete budget message here.
Key Budget Points
- Proposed Operating Budget Total: $554,805,617
- Appropriations to city departments: $464,375,563
Investing in Neighborhood Revitalization
- Street Paving: $15 million (up $2.5 million from FY 2023)
- Sidewalks: $200,000 (combined with surplus carry over of $875,000)
- Weed Abatement: $2 million (combined with surplus carry over of $1.25 million)
- Demolition: $1 million
- Land Bank Authority: $500,000
- Recycling: $300,000
- Traffic calming: $250,000
Investing in Youth
- Birmingham Promise: $2 million
- Birmingham City Schools (Mental Health Services Support): $1 million
- BHM Financial Freedom financial literacy: $1 million
- Conflict resolution through Common Ground H.E.A.T. Curriculum: $1 million
- Safe Haven Program (Parks and Recreation): $500,000
- RESTORE juvenile justice reentry: $225,000
- Kids and Jobs Program: $210,000 (Department of Youth Services)
Investing in Public Transportation
- BJCTA fixed route service: $11 million
- Birmingham Xpress bus rapid transit: $3 million
- Birmingham On Demand powered by VIA: $2.5 million
Investing in Employees
- 5% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Fire and Police
- Merit Pay (5%) available for 2,555 eligible employees
- Longevity Pay available for 1,875 eligible employees
- City will fund 4.75% of an 8.75% increase in healthcare benefit costs
- Pension contribution: $39.6 million for R&R, $13.3 million for F&P
- Contribution to Fire and Police Supplement Pension: $4.8 million increase
Capital Improvements
- Department of Public Works deferred maintenance: $3 million
- Rolling stock: $5 million
- Upgrades for 24 of 32 fire station dorms: $1.3 million
Notable
- Birmingham Civil Rights Institute capital improvements: $1 million
- Ruffner Mountain: $250,000 (up $25,000)
- Red Mountain Park: $250,000 (up $25,000)
- Vulcan Park: $525,000 (up $50,000)
