Council Approves Mayor Woodfin’s Budget Amendments which Prioritize Neighborhood Revitalization and Public Safety

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Neighborhood revitalization funding plays a key role in Mayor Randall L. Woodfin's budget amendment approved by the Birmingham City Council earlier today. More than $20 million dollars will be spent for street resurfacing, sidewalks, traffic calming, and expanded blight reduction efforts. The amended budget follows $16 million approved in October to increase recruitment and retention of police officers.

"Our shared priorities are clear: neighborhood revitalization and public safety," Mayor Woodfin said. "This budget continues our commitment to residents to pave streets and reduce blight in their neighborhoods. We are already seeing increased interest in the next police academy due to the recruitment and retention plan."

The amended budget includes $15 million for street resurfacing which pushes funding for street resurfacing alone to near $30 million over a two-year period.

In addition, the budget includes:

• Sidewalks: $1 million
• Traffic Calming: $500,000

*Note: The overall street resurfacing budget includes traffic diets and complete streets construction including sidewalks, ramps, pedestrian and bike lanes based on location assessments and budget.

• Demolition: $1.5 million
• Weed Abatement: $2.75 million

Education remains a priority in the amended budget with $2 million committed to Birmingham Promise, $1 million to the Birmingham Board of Education, and $250,000 to the early childhood education initiative, Small Magic (formerly Birmingham Talks). An additional $500,000 in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act will also be designated to Small Magic.

The city will also see an increase in capital projects. Nearly $10 million from the city's portion of American Rescue Plan Act funding will support 14 construction projects set to be underway in early 2025.

The amended budget also provides funding for a 3% COLA for all employees and merit or longevity pay for eligible employees.

In October the council approved the $16 million police recruitment and retention program which includes a $10,000 bonus for new recruits and $10,000 in four payments of $2,500 each as a retention bonus for officers who have served two years or longer in the department. The first $2,500 bonus will be included in officers' paychecks later this month.

In addition to recruitment and retention bonuses, the program funds a take-home-vehicle initiative for officers, part-time reserve officers, and pre-academy hiring.

Today's action by the council amends the budget for the current fiscal year which began on July 1, 2024, and ends June 30, 2025.