Checking in: What has Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox been up to?
Ever wonder what your mayor been up to each month? Sure you may have helped elect them, but what happens after that? Alabama Today has you covered. Each month we’ll highlight what the Yellowhammer State’s Big 5 mayors have been doing in an effort to hold them accountable and keep things more transparent. On top of campaigning for governor, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Mayor Walt Maddox has been busy keeping his constituents in Tuscaloosa up to date with what he’s been doing for the city. Here’s what he’s been up to for the last month: July 11 Maddox sat down with stern, a German magazine reporter Jens König to discuss possible tariffs on European carmakers, which would include Mercedes in Tuscaloosa. Mercedes currently employs approximately 3,700 people, and produces almost 300,000 cars a year. July 14 Maddox orders all city flags to fly at half mast to honor former City Councilor Ed Montgomery after his passing on July 13. Montgomery was “a councilor on the City of Tuscaloosa’s first term after converting to a mayor/council form of government in October of 1985, he represented District 4 until 1989,” the City of Tuscaloosa posted on Facebook. “He shaped the city for the better,” Maddox said in the post. “My wife, Stephanie, joins me in sending prayers to his family and friends.” August 21 Maddox announced the 2019 budget to the Tuscaloosa City Council. According to the City of Tuscaloosa: Specific comments and recommendations include: -The $155,105,724 general fund budget and the $54,074,701 water and sewer fund budget totals combined operating budgets of $209,180,425. -Employee cost of living adjustment of 2 percent and one step increase are included. There was no rise in employee health insurance costs, which remain at a 137 percent increase since 2006. Inflation has risen 33 percent. Health insurance outpaced inflation by 104 percent. -The 2019 budget includes a $1 adjustment on residential and non-residential garbage, trash and recycling rates and a 1 percent increase in water and sewer rates, the lowest water rate increase in recent City history. The City currently subsidizes $1.8 million a year for environmental services, saving each customer $78 a year. “We continue to do more with less and are driving Tuscaloosa’s economy into a 21st century model,” Maddox said in the city’s post. “While our estimated loss to online sales is still $5.3 million annually, our evolution to an experienced-based economy is starting to take shape, as evident in our 40 percent increase in lodging tax revenue since 2014 and 6 percent business license revenue growth in that same period.” Watch Maddox’s presentation below:
Tuscaloosa City Council approves deal allowing Uber rides
The Tuscaloosa City Council has approved a deal that’s expected to allow the ride-booking service Uber to begin operations in the city within a month. The Tuscaloosa News reports that the council on Tuesday voted 6-1 to change its vehicle-for-hire ordinance to allow Uber — as well as similar companies — to begin operations. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox said he planned to sign the amended ordinance into law. Councilman Kip Tyner cast the lone dissenting vote. The Tuscaloosa newspaper reports that Tyner expressed concerns that the city’s traditional taxi and limousine companies are not treated fairly by the new rules, including the issue of how business licenses are granted. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
