Huntsville City Council has approved a more than $360 million Fiscal 2027 budget that includes employee pay increases, expanded public safety funding and millions for transportation and capital projects.
Public safety receives major funding
The Huntsville Police Department and Huntsville Fire & Rescue will receive a combined $160.2 million under the new budget.
Police funding totals $88.8 million, a 9.38% increase from the previous fiscal year. Fire & Rescue will receive $71.4 million, representing a 10.03% increase.
The budget also authorizes funding for 18 additional public safety positions. A separate amendment approved by the council provides additional compensation for police officers and firefighters who have reached the top of their existing pay schedules.
City employees will receive pay increases
The budget provides city employees with a 2% cost-of-living increase, beginning with the first pay period of the new fiscal year on Oct. 12. Employees will also receive scheduled step increases.
Council members considered increasing the cost-of-living adjustment to 3%, but that proposal did not pass. The council also heard concerns from police officers about compensation, staffing levels and overtime.
The approved budget includes more than $14.7 million for outside agencies through the General Fund, while the Lodging & Liquor Fund provides another $17 million for outside organizations.
Roads, parks and transportation get millions
Huntsville’s budget includes more than $22.3 million for road resurfacing and maintenance. Another $17.5 million will support road improvement projects involving County Line Road, Edinburg
Drive and Resolute Way, along with design work for the next phase of the Northern Bypass.
The city also plans to invest $15 million in multimodal transportation projects, including new sidewalks and greenways. Additional funding will support redevelopment corridors near Research Park, Mill Creek and downtown Huntsville.
The multi-year capital plan includes new and expanded police, fire and library facilities, improvements at city parks, commercial redevelopment along Memorial Parkway and continued expansion of Huntsville’s greenway network.
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