Birmingham City Council finally passes FY 2018 city budget

After months of often contentious debate, the Birmingham City Council -- at its regular meeting for Tuesday, Dec. 12 -- voted unanimously to approve the city’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget in the amount of $428 million.

“We have a budget,” exclaimed Council President Valerie Abbott after the vote, and a large number of spectators in the council chambers applauded.

Any final concerns members had regarding the budget, referred to as the final budget compromise, were worked out at a committee meeting on Monday night.

Councilor Steven Hoyt praised what he called Mayor Randall Woodfin’s “leadership” in helping to craft the budget.

“I appreciate you working with the council to get this budget passed,” Hoyt said.

The budget is virtually the same total dollar amount as that proposed in May by former Mayor William Bell, whom Woodfin defeated in a runoff election in October.

Bell said that the budget was the largest in the city’s history.

Other business

The council approved a redevelopment agreement with Alabama School of Fine Arts Foundation, under which the city will sell a 10,367-square-foot building at 820 18th St. N. to the foundation for $250,000, and the Foundation will redevelop the property for use by the school.

The council also voted to approve $225,000 in funding each year for three years for Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition, the organization that operates Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, the city’s 1,011- acre nature preserve and recreation area in South East Lake. The Coalition is responsible under the agreement for maintaining the facilities with staff, providing visitor services, security, land management, trail construction and maintenance.