small business

The Birmingham City Council has approved revisions to the citys 2025 fiscal budget, including a plan to reduce traffic downtown.>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Birmingham’s mayor shows budget amendments to improve streets, sidewalksThe amended budget includes $15 million for street resurfacing throughout the city, bringing the total funding for the project to $30 million.>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from WVTM 13The allocated funds for street resurfacing include $1 million for sidewalks, along with “traffic calming” measures, which consist of ramps and dedicated bike lanes throughout various parts of the city.>> KNOW BEFORE YOU LEAVE: Interactive traffic mapAccording to the city’s fiscal 2025 budget, funding a majority of these measures largely comes from property and business taxes, totaling over $427 millionabout 85% of the city’s $554 million revenue for the fiscal years 2024-25. Another big measure the city started in 2024 is its effort to bolster the Birmingham Police Department following a year of violent crime throughout the city.The Birmingham Police Department alone is expected to receive over $115 million from the city’s fiscal 2025 budget, which includes a measure passed in October that aims to aggressively recruit new officers and retain current ones.The updated budget also includes additional funding for the Birmingham Promise, a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for city employees, and increased longevity pay for eligible city employees.City departments receive over $464 million, about 84% of the city’s budget.Non-departmental and city expenditures equal around $90 million, or about 16%.>> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube