By Kaitlin Hoskins, News Editor
The Gadsden City Council unanimously approved its largest budget to date on September 17 at the regularly scheduled council meeting. The new Fiscal Year 2025 budget is just over $74 million.
Council President Kent Back said it was “an aggressive budget” but one that the city needs to continue growing and improving.
“This is what we were elected to do,” Back said. “Growing the city takes money. People within our city and outside our city have spoken loudly and plainly that they want to the city to move forward. It takes spending money to move forward. “
Ford and Finance Director Brandon Phillips presented the budget in a public hearing during the council’s Sept. 10 meeting, although council members had seen it previously.
Council members also met individually with Phillips to discuss at length the different parts of the budget.
The $74,402,513 total is an increase from the Fiscal Year 2024 budget of $60,250,513, with most of the increase coming from a nearly $11 million jump in capital expenditures, from $1,283,847 to $12,032,404.
That jump will cover projects such as night golf at the city-owned Twin Bridges Golf Club; the completion of Phase 5, a signature baseball field, at the Gadsden Sports Park behind Gadsden State Community College; drainage improvements; and equipment purchases.
The increased expenditures will be partially offset by a projected nine percent increase in city revenue and a decision to commit the entire overage from the city’s undesignated fund to the general fund, which is projected to be about $9 million.
Ford said that move was suggested by auditors and would keep the required $20 million balance in the undesignated fund. He noted that the fund would continue to grow above that amount because of interest.
Personnel expenses also increased by 3.6 percent to $41,028,388. Operating expenses grew to $17,891,793.
The only decrease was in outside agency appropriations, to $1,475,000. Ford urged 501(C3) agencies and others to seek Community Development Block Grant funding. He said the city will have $980,000 available there, but agencies must apply for it with the proper paperwork.
There will also be a $3 million one-time expense for equipment for a new city paving crew that was announced earlier this year and will offer more flexibility in addressing street issues. The budget allocates $830,000 to pay a 12-person, full-time crew, including benefits.
Bonds for Gadsden Public Library and Noccalula Falls improvements and riverfront commercial development were paid off in 2024, and Ford expects the bond for the construction of The Venue at Coosa Landing and the East Gadsden Community Center and landfill expansion to be paid off in 2025.
Ford said “great things are ahead” for Gadsden and “announcements are coming” in the future.
“We have so many projects and growth and new business in Gadsden,” Ford said. “Whataburger is breaking ground. Starbucks is opening. Cookout is opening. Game Day Live just opened. We have industry developments coming. It’s an exciting year for the City of Gadsden.”
Ford also thanked the council during the Tuesday meeting for their hand in the growth in Gadsden.
“I want to say sincerely, thank you to the council,” Ford said. “This budget wouldn’t be possible without y’all. You’re going to see a lot of exciting things happening this year because of this budget.”
In other business, the City of Gadsden:
- Approved a resolution granting a one-year moratorium on certain new business licenses.
- Approved resolutions authorizing acquisitions of property for the Agricola drainage improvement project, the Dalehaven Place drainage improvement project, the North Gadsden Park drainage improvement project, the Goldenrod Avenue drainage improvement project and the Presley Avenue drainage improvement project.
- Approved a resolution accepting conveyance of property from Gadsden Land Bank Authority for drainage easement.
- Approved a resolution approving the Alabama Power permit required to repair piers and sea wall at Dub Parker Park (Gadsden Sports Park).
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Gadsden City Council will be Tuesday, September 24. Work session begins at 10 a.m. in council chambers at City Hall with council meeting beginning at 11 a.m.