City beat: Special election set, budget passes, BOLD grant applications

Three Birmingham City Council seats will be at stake in a special election in October. The Council passed a city budget for fiscal year 2020 with significant monies allocated for neighborhood revitalization. And the city is accepting applications for its BOLD Grants, designed to help businesses and nonprofits that have innovative ways to improve the city’s economy or solve social problems.

TAXES, COUNCIL SEATS

A special election to renew existing ad valorem taxes for Birmingham City Schools will be held Oct. 8, according to a city news release. Special council elections for districts 1, 6 and 7 will also be held that day. At press time, qualifying for the council elections at Jefferson County Probate Court was to conclude Aug. 23. Clinton Woods represents District 1, and Crystal Smitherman represents District 6. They were both appointed by the Council in December 2018. Woods and Smitherman replaced Lashunda Scales and Sheila Tyson, respectively, both of whom were sworn in as members of the Jefferson County Commission in November 2018. Wardine Alexander represents District 7. She was appointed in October 2018 to replace Jay Roberson, who resigned. All three appointees are running to serve full terms, according to media reports.

NEW BUDGET

On July 23, the City Council approved the $451 million operating and capital budget submitted by Mayor Randall Woodfin in May. The budget represents a $10.5 million increase over the fiscal year 2019 budget. More than $14 million is dedicated to neighborhood revitalization, according to a release from Woodfin’s office. “We are proud of the commitment to neighborhood revitalization reflected in this budget, which will support our long-term commitment to the 99 neighborhoods,” Woodfin said. The budget includes increased expenditures for street paving, pothole repair, demolition and weed abatement. To read the budget, go to birminghamal.gov/budget2020.

BE BOLD

The city’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity is accepting applications for the second year of its Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (BOLD) grant program. IEO will partner with local businesses, nonprofits and educational institutions that take innovative approaches to community and economic development. Up to $1 million will be allocated across seven categories, including social innovation, job accessibility, microloans to small businesses and revitalization of commercial districts. The application deadline is Sept. 13. For details, go to birminghamal.gov/bold.