Mayor Battle preparing for city growth in new 2026 budget

City Hall — The new budget was introduced by the City Council. (Ben Johnson / Hville Blast)

Mayor Tommy Battle introduced the new fiscal year budget this week to the Huntsville City Council. The proposed operating budget is $343,723,103, which includes $30,417,499 for 60 outside agencies and rolls forward $7,854,424 in savings from the 2025 fiscal year budget.

One of the highest priorities of the new budget is road construction and maintenance and additional public safety personnel.

Here’s more info:

A look at the new fiscal year budget for Huntsville

Big Spring Park 7 — Huntsville’s new budget includes new police officers and new Parks & Recreation employees. (Hville Blast)

To accommodate the rapid population growth of the city, the budget authorizes the addition of 10 Huntsville Police employees. With three new recreation centers opening in the 2026 fiscal year, the budget also increases funding for 31 new Parks & Recreation employees to serve those portions of our community.

More highlights of the proposed FY26 budget include:

More than $18 million in street resurfacing
New road construction improvement projects totaling $29.25 million
Renovations at Dr. Richard Showers, Sr., Recreation Center and Goldsmith-Schiffman Field
Road improvements and construction for Old Big Cove Road, Swancott Road, Winchester Road, Resolute Way (I-565 to Redstone Arsenal), Holmes Avenue and Old Monrovia Road
Commercial redevelopment along Memorial Parkway North
Phase I of North Huntsville Greenway
Redevelopment investments for Choice Neighborhood Initiative (Mill Creek), Cummings Research Park and Ditto Landing
2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for City employees
Improvements at Huntsville Depot Park
Expansion of Big Spring Park East

You can view the complete budget proposal here.

“This budget reflects the growth of the City of Huntsville and our community’s needs that come out of that growth. The City operates frugally and the money we are saving in the 2025 fiscal year can roll back into the budget for the upcoming year.”

Mayor Tommy Battle

The City Council will discuss the budget during a work session on Friday, Sept. 19, at 2PM at City Hall and is expected to vote on the budget during their regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 5:30PM.

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