Woodfin Presents $436 Million Budget Plan To City Council

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Mayor Randall Woodfin introduced his proposed $436 million budget to the Birmingham City Council, again stressing that the plan’s top priority is neighborhood revitalization.

The budget will increase funding for demolition, weed abatement and enhanced technology and lighting for communities. Neighborhood leaders were also challenged to take an active role in improving the areas they call home.

Woodfin’s plan is an $8 million increase over the current budget and reflects a rise in revenue from use and occupational taxes, as well as a commitment to cost savings.

“It is time to make some difficult and responsible decisions to meet our core values of customer service, efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability,” Woodfin said.

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Along with plans to improve infrastructure and public facilities – including street and sidewalk repair; parks and recreation; and libraries and fire stations – the budget contains allocations to develop new positions for the Department for Innovation and Economic Opportunity. Those new roles would include capacity for adding deputy directors for talent development and small business growth.

“IEO will launch a request for proposals process to allocate funding to external organizations that perform services related to economic development,” the mayor said. “This process is necessary to ensure that our partners are coordinated in executing a shared vision of building a more inclusive economy.”

Woodfin emphasized that the proposed budget will “create new standards” to prioritize neighborhood revitalization, a cornerstone of his administration.

“Over the last several years, more than $3.7 million tax dollars have piled up in those association accounts untouched,” Woodfin said. “Our goal is to address the issues you have agreed on in your community. And we ask you to team up with us to finish the job.”

Photo by Michael Seale/Patch

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