Huntsville city hall would cost $60 million
Plans to build a new City Hall in Huntsville are moving forward, with members of the mayor’s administrative team putting a $60 million price tag on the project. AL.com reports that the team presented its plans to the City Council recently. The goal is to make the new site a “one-stop shop” for residents while also providing enough work space to have all City Hall employees at one location, Mayor Tommy Battle said. Huntsville’s government is currently spread over six downtown buildings. “This is something you look at and you say ‘Wow, can we put it off?’” Battle said. “We’ve put it off about as long as we can.” The schedule presented Wednesday has construction beginning in early 2021 and taking about 18 months to complete. City officials will get feedback from taxpayers in advance through a series of public meetings, City Administrator John Hamilton said. “We’re still at the starting line (of the project),” he said. General Services Director Ricky Wilkinson said city spends $365,000 annually leasing space for its municipal workforce. A new building would also save the city money on energy bills, city officials said. “If we do it right, we have a building that lasts 50, 60, 70 years and will be something iconic to the city of Huntsville,” Battle said. “And when people see it, they will be able to say they’re proud of their city’s headquarters.” Republished with the Permission of the Associated Press.
Mayor Tommy Battle vetoes pay raises for himself, city council
An Alabama city’s mayor has vetoed raises for himself and members of the city council. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle nixed the increases Friday. News outlets report Battle said, in a news release, that he had a “philosophical difference” with council members on how they should be compensated, saying they should strive to be involved in their communities as citizens and not as employees of the city. Battle also has previously said he is satisfied with his current salary. According to the mayor’s office, Battle’s salary would have increased from $136,000 to $176,000, the council president’s salary would increase from $39,000 to $49,000 and the city council members’ salaries would rise from $33,000 to $44,000 each. The raises, approved on a 4-1 vote Thursday, would have taken effect Nov. 2, 2020. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Huntsville gives Remington more time to hit hiring goals
An Alabama city has double-down on its support for a firearms manufacturer that filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this year. The Huntsville City Council on Thursday approved a three-year extension for Remington Outdoor Co. to meet the job quotas laid out in an incentive deal that it has fallen short of meeting. The deal was made when Remington moved to Huntsville back in 2014 — the company was to hire 2,000 local employees in 10 years, 680 of those by 2017, in exchange for $69 million. But Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle told local news outlets Remington has yet to meet it hiring commitment and has only hired roughly 450 workers thus far. “They’re 450 right now and it probably should’ve been about 600 at this point, so the ramp up is not as rapid,” Battle told WAFF-48. The City of Huntsville has given the rifle and handguns company until 2022 to meet its employment goal of 1,868.
Tommy Battle proposes a balanced FY19 budget to Huntsville City Council
Huntsville, Ala. Mayor Tommy Battle proposed a balanced budget for the FY 2019 fiscal year during Thursday night’s regular City Council meeting that provides level funding for most municipal departments and outside agencies. Battle proposed a $254.4 million operating budget that represents a modest $12.2 million increase over the FY 2018 budget. It includes $209.7 million in general fund operations, of which roughly 72 percent goes toward personnel expenses, and $144.5 million in capital projects. “We continue to see strong growth in jobs and, therefore, steady growth in our population. This budget sustains our annual investments in infrastructure and expanding services needed to stay ahead of the growth in our community,” said Battle. “The fiscal responsibility with which our administration and the City Council have approached the management of our grow is reflected in our dual triple-A credit ratings.” The Mayor is asking Council to continue prudent capital expenditures in the City’s infrastructure and public facilities including over $41 million in road construction and maintenance, approximately $27 million in parks and recreational facilities, and $7.8 million and public safety facilities and equipment. Additionally, this budget sustains the steady growth in the City’s discretionary contribution to local funding of Huntsville City Schools, topping $24 million for the first time. Late in FY18, the City Council added 10 police officer positions to be filled during FY19. Battle’s budget also adds critical positions to the Public Works Department needed for increased sanitation services and road maintenance. Highlights of the FY19 budget include: $41 million for road construction, repaving, and maintenance $27 million for public park and recreation projects $25 million for City Hall construction $24.5 million for Huntsville City Schools $24.7 million for outside agency special appropriations 1% Cost of Living increase for City employees Council members will consider the budget for final approval at their regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 27, ahead of the start of the 2019 fiscal year on Oct. 1.
Huntsville City Council approves $197M budget for 2017
Following a 4 hours, 15 minutes meeting, the Huntsville City Council unanimously approved a budget to fund the upcoming fiscal year at roughly 10:00 p.m. on Thursday. The $197 million dollar operating budget contains a two-percent cost of living raise for city employees and supports growth in the police department with eight new positions, which will bring the number of Huntsville Police Department officers to 650 for next year. The budget also provides fleet improvements for fire, police and sanitation. City schools will receive $18.8 million. In a separate vote, Council also approved $85.8 million in capital projects that positively impact residents’ quality of life, so that so 2/3 of the money dedicated to road repavement would go toward repaving residential streets. The budget includes funding for parks, recreation, greenway infrastructure, road resurfacing and sidewalk repair. The capital budget also provides funding for corridor economic redevelopment throughout the city and $25 million toward Restore Our Roads projects. “We are grateful to our City Council for their thorough review of the proposed budget, for their thoughtful input, and full support,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “As a result, the City moves into the next fiscal year with a financially sound, balanced budget that continues a tradition of quality services and supports the exciting growth occurring in Huntsville.” The budget represents a 3.1 percent increase over the 2016 operating budget. The City’s fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30.
