2025-26 Budget Info & Hearings
Budget Hearing Schedule
City Hall, 2nd Floor, South Conference Room
- Wednesday, September 3
- 5:00–7:30pm
- Departmental budgets for Police and Fire Departments
- Tuesday, September 9
- 5:00–7:30pm
- Departmental budgets for Engineering, Inspections, and the Library
- Thursday, September 11
- 5:00–7:30pm
- Departmental budgets for Public Works/Parks, Courts, and Traffic
- Thursday, September 18
- 5:00–7:30pm
- Departmental budgets for IT and Fleet
- Wednesday, September 24
- 5:00–7:30pm
- Departmental budgets for Admin/City Manager and Finance
- Thursday, September 25
- 5:00–7:30pm
- Revenues and General Fund (items not covered in departments), additional funds, and employee funding matters (COLA, bonuses, insurance, etc.)
- Monday, September 29 (if needed)
- 4:00pm
- Hearing to address any loose ends before budget approval at the council meeting that night
Proposed FY 2025–2026 Budget: A Closer Look
City Manager Glen Adams presented the proposed 2025–2026 budget, calling it one of the most carefully reviewed budgets in recent memory. City leadership at every level has been deeply involved throughout the process.
The plan is still a draft and will continue to be refined as new information comes in and during upcoming budget hearings. It is described as a balanced budget aimed at giving department leaders the resources they need so they can do their jobs without taking on unnecessary risks.
Key Budget Figures
- Total budget (all funds): $128.5 million
- Operational budget: $75.6 million, based on a 2% revenue increase and $3.32 million from carryover funds (last year’s was about $5 million).
- Capital expenditures: $21 million, with a new five-year capital improvement plan created.
- Personnel: Includes a 3.5% cost-of-living adjustment, a 5% merit pay increase. through the Jefferson County Personnel Board, and tiered bonuses if surplus funds allow.
- Support for Homewood City Schools: $27.3 million, including $11.6 million from the one-cent sales tax and $12.4 million from the Board of Education trust fund.
Priorities Highlighted
- New Fire Station #2: Design work funded at $600,000 in this budget, with $10 million planned for construction from 2026–2028.
- Major Infrastructure & Traffic Relief: Divergent Diamond Project: $29.2 million partnership among city, state, federal, and county agencies to relieve congestion in West Homewood, described by Adams as “critical infrastructure” for future redevelopment and long-term financial stability.
- Fire Equipment: $750,000 for a fire truck ordered in 2023 (arriving late 2025), $2.8 million for a ladder truck due in 2029, and $350,000 for a mini pumper quick-response truck.
- Flood Prevention: 13 stormwater and creek wall projects totaling $2.18 million.
- Comprehensive City Plan: In partnership with the Regional Planning Commission, Homewood will invest $100,000 in a major planning process (matched by $400,000 from the commission). Adams described this as a way to shape a 20–30 year vision for the city, align future budgets, and foster true community dialogue.
- Debt & Investments: Plans are underway to refinance $24 million in outstanding bonds, with a potential savings of $725,000. The city is also consolidating accounts to secure stronger interest rates (up to 4.26%) and is transitioning banking services to Synovus.
- Fiscal Policies: Updated policies, last comprehensively reviewed in 2013, will be included with the final budget.
Next Steps
This budget is still proposed. It will be discussed in detail at public hearings beginning next week, with opportunities to provide input before the City Council takes a final vote. Check that schedule above.
Watch City Manager Glen Adams presentation below (12:12 Budget Brief Presentation)
More
The City Council approved a request to place a shared toy box for Hot Wheels cars along the edge of Morris Boulevard. Andrew Elliot, the driver behind this project, worked closely with neighbors and hopes it will become a small gift to children who pass by. The idea grew out of the Elliott family’s own story. Their boys love Hot Wheels, and they first saw something like this while visiting grandparents. Their five year old helped build the box with his grandparents, and both boys plan to serve as ‘Hot Wheel-brarians.’ They already have an inventory ready so empty spaces can be filled again. They have spent many hours racing cars at home, naming each one, and turning simple toys into fun family championships. They hope this box invites other families to get outside and enjoy the surprise of finding a new car on a walk or a bike ride. Their hope is simple: “We hope the box serves as a blessing to others in the neighborhood! What's the most exciting toy / hot wheels car for a kid? A new one that you don't already have! Part of the ambition is that it gets kids around the neighborhood excited to go out on a family walk, bike ride, etc. - knowing it will result in bringing a new hot rod home!” Stop by and feed your inner vroooom!
Pre-Council Meeting December 8, 2025 Council members walked through the upcoming agenda, and heard updates on items like restricting a few on street parking spots on Linden Avenue, adding a crosswalk at Shades Road and Westover Drive, tightening oversight of vouchers and credit card use, and cleaning up shared dumpsters behind downtown businesses. The highlight was an item to appoint Sam Gaston to serve as Special Assistant to the City Manager, bringing his decades of experience to help guide Homewood through its transition to the new council manager form of government and support long term planning. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3YdB0J5
Homewood has voted to appoint Sam Gaston as the Special Assistant to the City Manager. This is a steady step as our city moves into a new form of government. Sam will work with city leadership and help guide the transition as we look to find a permanent City Manager. Sam brings 45 years in local government management and planning. He recently retired after more than 32 years as the City Manager of Mountain Brook. His roots run deep in public service. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in public administration from Auburn University. He has served as president of the International City County Management Association, the Alabama City County Management Association, the Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association, and the Homewood Mountain Brook Kiwanis Club. Mayor Graham Smith of Mountain Brook offered this statement, "Sam’s decision to serve in Homewood is a gift to our entire region. He is one of the most respected municipal leaders in Alabama," she said. "His experience and steady leadership will be exactly what Homewood needs as it moves into this new government structure. Mountain Brook has benefited from his wisdom for decades and now our neighbors in Homewood will share in that same strength." Homewood Mayor Jennifer Andress shared this, "We are excited and grateful to welcome Sam Gaston to Homewood as Special Assistant to the City Manager," she said. "Sam is the gold standard for city managers in Alabama. He encouraged our move toward a Council Manager form of government and we are thankful to have him join Cale Smith in this important season." We are proud to welcome Sam and look forward to the experience he will bring to our city.
Homewood is rolling out text alerts. You can sign up for as many as you like, or choose 'HWDALL' to receive all alerts. Even if you subscribed before, you will need to sign up again using the info below: Text HWDALL to 38276 to receive ALL alerts Text HWDINFO to 38276 to receive news alerts only Text HWDSTREETS to 38276 to receive street closure info only Text HWDEMERGENCY to 38276 to receive emergency alerts only Text HWDGARBAGE to 38276 to receive holiday garbage schedule alerts only.
Board of Zoning Adjustments December 4, 2025 The Board of Zoning Adjustment approved three variance requests including a detailed appeal from the owners of 800 College Avenue to rebuild on their existing footprint with strong neighbor support, and granted requests to add a second story at 564 Forest Drive South and extend a front porch at 600 Handball Avenue. A fourth case for 1707 Reese Street was continued to the January 8 meeting. Case Packet: https://bit.ly/48M4fc3
Planning Commission December 2, 2025 The Planning Commission addressed items that included a pickleball court addition at Brookdale, a large two-part request from Homewood Community Church, and a Frisco Street re-survey. Most of the night centered on the church’s proposal, with neighbors raising concerns about traffic, construction access, buffers, lighting, and flooding; the applicant responded in detail, committed to no construction access on Columbiana, and the Commission sent both items to Council with favorable recommendations. Agenda: https://bit.ly/48M4fc3
Pre-Council Meeting November 24, 2025 The council moved through a handful of items including the TAP multimodal facility contract coming in under budget, a budget amendment to complete the project this year, and the continued 80% reimbursement through the TARP grant. They also discussed new fleet-maintenance tools that will help recruit and retain technicians, an ordinance to clear out old committee language that does away with the old style of committees and now has become one "Pre-Council" meeting, tiered year-end employee bonuses supported by a strong surplus, and a new agreement with Carr Riggs & Ingram to continue supporting the finance department. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4rhpXMe
City of Homewood staff and leadership enjoyed an early Thanksgiving meal thanks to the Homewood PTO. This annual tradition rotates around our elementary schools. Edgewood Elementary School hosted this year. It is their delicious way of thanking our city employees for all they do for us!
The Board of Zoning Adjustments has an open supernumerary position and applications are welcome from anyone interested in serving the city. This is a meaningful way to assist the vision of Homewood and learn how zoning decisions can shape our community. The deadline to apply is November 24 . To apply, send your resume and cover letter to bo.seagrist@homewoodal.org If you have questions about the scope of the work itself, email emily.harrismiller@homewoodal.org
Council Meeting November 10, 2025 The council opened with a proclamation honoring landscape architect Jane Reed Ross, announcing that the large Shades Creek Greenway bridge will be named for her, then moved through business, awarding the Homewood Public Library phase four renovation bid, approving contracts including one for acting city manager Cale Smith, and giving the city manager authority to sign contracts up to $100,000. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3JV3BPS