City Council – Meeting Highlights from September 28, 2017

Published on September 29, 2017

FY 2018 Budget

The Huntsville City Council approved municipal budgets for the 2018 fiscal year at their regularly scheduled meeting Thursday night.

Council voted 5-0 to adopt a $400.6 million budget, which includes $197.6 million in general fund operations and $157.6 million in capital projects.

The general fund, or operating budget, represents a modest $600,000 increase over 2017 and provides level funding for most municipal departments and outside agencies. About 74 percent of the general fund goes toward personnel expenses.

Council Member Devyn Keith proposed an amendment to special appropriations to provide $15,000 in support for economic development efforts to each of the three entities – North Huntsville Business Association, South Huntsville Business Association and African-American Chamber of Commerce. The amendment passed 3-2.

The budget adds 10 additional police officers, makes significant investments in parks and recreation and fulfills commitments to help fund construction of new public libraries for North and South Huntsville.

FY 2018 Budget Highlights

• Funding for 10 new police officer positions
• $12 million for road repaving (double the amount from FY17)
• $26.2 million in new road construction (includes $25 million for Restore Our Roads)
• $37.4 million for public park and recreation projects
• $16.8 million for outside agency special appropriations
• $23.1 million for Huntsville City Schools
• $12 million for community projects

View budget presentation HERE .

Economic Development

Council approved a development agreement with Aerojet Rocketdyne to provide up to $3 million in relocation assistance over the next five years to support two major projects in Huntsville that will bring at least 705 new jobs. Aerojet Rocketdyne is relocating its Defense Business Headquarters, Program Management, Engineering and Rocketship business units to a new facility to be built in Cummings Research Park, and the company will lease with an option to purchase a new advanced manufacturing facility for composites, additive manufacturing and engine assembly in North Huntsville Industrial Park.

Board Appointments

• Steven A. Johnson to the Museum Board of the City of Huntsville for a first term to expire Aug. 13, 2023 – nominated by Council President Robinson.
• Reappointed Jane Tippett, Donna Parker, Robert Baudendistel, to the Beautification Board for a term to expire Oct. 1, 2020 – nominated by Council Member Kling
• Reappointed Shannon Windsor to the Beautification Board for a term to expire Oct. 1, 2020 – nominated by Council President Robinson.
• Gripp Luther to the Research Park Board for a term to expire July 2020 – reappointed by Mayor Battle
• Frank Collazo, Jr., and Dr. Bob Altenkirch to the Research Park Board – appointed by Mayor Battle
• Dr. Ryan Smith to the Human Relations Commission, Place 5, to fill a partial term to expire September 22, 2018 – appointed by Mayor Battle