Birmingham City Council Approves $436 Million Budget
The Birmingham City Council approved the 2019 budget Tuesday with a vote of 8-0. District 1 Councilwoman Lashunda Scales was not present for the vote.
The $436 million budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 includes support for basic city services and a small cost of living increase for employees.
Some funding requests will be handled differently than in years past. Mayor Randall Woodfin did not include funding in the budget for nonprofit economic interest groups such as the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) and REV Birmingham. Instead, those groups will have to submit proposals for individual projects to receive funds. The council had proposed $735,000 for REV and $137,975 for the BBA.
There’s also a change in transit funding. Although $10 million is designated for public transit, only half will go to the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority. The city might release the other $5 million, provided the BJCTA meets certain requirements.
In his initial budget proposal, Woodfin wanted to withhold all funds from the BJCTA. He says the transit authority needs to put in place a plan for leadership stability and board training before receiving any city funds.
At a committee meeting Monday evening, council members said they plan to explore more efficient transportation options.
The budget also includes:
**$2,000 for each of the city’s 99 neighborhoods.
**1 percent cost of living adjustment for city employees
**$3 million for a new downtown stadium and BJCC expansion
**$3 million for Birmingham City Schools, including money for more metal detectors, handheld scanners, door alarms, security officers and crossing guards.
Russia launched an experimental ballistic missile at Ukraine, the U.S. says
Ukraine raised alarm suggesting Russia may have used an intercontinental ballistic missile to hit the city of Dnipro, but the U.S. National Security Council does not believe it was an ICBM.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdraws as Trump’s attorney general nominee
Allegations of sex trafficking and drug use had stirred controversy over Matt Gaetz's nomination as attorney general.
This year’s FAFSA is officially open. Early review says it’s ‘a piece of cake’
The FAFSA form is now open to students hoping to get help paying for college in the 2025-26 academic year. Students can expect a much smoother process compared to the last cycle.
He was stuck in a hospital for 8 months. How states can fail people with disabilities
In Georgia and other states, the federal government oversees the treatment of people with mental illness and developmental disabilities, because the states have been unable to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the subsequent Olmstead ruling.
Foreign nationals propel U.S. science. Visa limits under Trump could change that
The incoming Trump administration is likely to crack down on the H-1B visas used by tech companies and research institutions to hire top talent from other countries.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
