The Finance Committee reviewed final portions of the 2025–2026 budget, focusing on smaller special funds, and employee funding. They discussed gas tax and court funds, updated allocations for boards and nonprofits, and made line-item adjustments, including reducing the Beautification Board back to $10,000, increasing tree planting funds to $40,000, raising the Bill Center to $10,000, and adding $3,500 for Homewood Theatre.

They also corrected or removed outdated vendor charges, and adjusted transit authority funding. Employee matters were approved, including a 4.5% cost-of-living adjustment, continuation of annual bonuses, and covering health insurance increases.

The meeting also addressed parking enforcement near Edgewood, agreeing to pursue timed parking and stricter enforcement while monitoring the impact of new parking deck access.

City Clerk Bo Seagrist reported strong results, including more than $630,000 collected above the business license budget, crediting his revenue staff's hard work. He asked for a 10% pay premium for a longtime staff member to serve as assistant city clerk, which received strong support. Overall, only small budget increases were requested for supplies, postage, training, and conferences, with a focus on maintaining services and avoiding unnecessary software costs.

Finance Director Lester Smith reported efficiency gains from system upgrades that eliminated one accounting assistant position, while new positions such as a chief accountant and procurement officer were added. They suggested the city consider adding a budget analyst in the future.

City Manager Glen Adams presented requests for new initiatives, including funding for a Communications Director, HR director, the city’s centennial celebration, a comprehensive plan, and a $150,000 discretionary fund to handle small urgent needs. Other items included expanding clean water systems to city buildings. A major discussion centered on Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority funding. Officials expressed frustration at rising costs with no added benefit, noting past budgeting errors and contract timing issues. The committee voted to set the city’s contribution at $374,332, the same as the prior year, and directed staff to negotiate from that position.

Fleet Director Blake Graves requested funds to replace the original AC unit in the shop’s break and locker rooms, purchase a new Snap-on scan tool for on-road diagnostics, and provide toolboxes and lifetime-warranty tools for all technicians to help with recruitment and retention. He also asked to replace an old Expedition with a pickup truck for the shop supervisor’s on-call use. 

IT Director Brandon Sims requested adding a PC network technician to handle daily help-desk tickets, consolidating copier/printer contracts under their budget, and covering citywide cell phones, data center battery maintenance, and document management. Capital requests included data destruction services, lifecycle replacement of monitors, desktops, and laptops, updated network infrastructure, server and storage refresh, security cameras for City Hall, and door lock system repairs. He also sought funds for office setup, software compliance licenses, a Laserfiche add-on, and a new vehicle to replace a 2001 Crown Vic.

Homewood Magistrate, Laura Roberts, requested funding for a full-time warrant officer to help reduce about 9,000 active warrants and assist with court security, noting the police department doesn’t have enough manpower. She also asked for a full-time bailiff, partly funded through corrections and court funds, and to keep a full-time clerk position funded so it can be filled. Other requests included permission to use $10,000 of court funds for new office furniture and up to $45,000 of court funds for a new vehicle. She also asked the council to update the city’s outdated fine schedule, raising the maximum ordinance violation fine from $100 to $500, increasing parking fines to $100, and setting handicapped parking fines at $500. The council discussed that this change would require ordinance updates and agreed to send it to the Public Safety Committee for further review.

Traffic Maintenance Supervisor Randy Hambly requested three main items: an automatic security gate to replace a padlocked gate at the shared building with police, $75,000 for traffic signal controllers and camera upgrades (replacing outdated 1990s equipment), and a replacement vehicle after an older truck was surplused.

Public Works Director Berkley Squires presented a $2 million request to renovate their 1984 facility and add covered storage for equipment, remodel restrooms to ADA standards, and expand locker rooms. They also requested small equipment to help with ditch work and sidewalk repairs, plus a mini excavator to allow two sidewalk crews to operate at once. Finally, they asked to replace three aging trucks. Council noted that in-house sidewalk and ADA ramp work has already saved significant money compared to contracting.

Parks & Recreation Director Berkley Squires presented several requests: refinishing the Community Center gym floors, replacing shade structures at Central Pool, replacing deteriorated wood bridges at Central Park, and beginning restroom renovations at Central (starting with the women’s side). They also asked for routine equipment replacements (mowers, carts, blower, sprayer, storage building), three new trucks, and approval for $500,000 in design work at the Senior Center. Operational requests included restoring four long-unfunded park labor positions from 2011, adding skilled laborers, and expanding trail and right-of-way crews. Council also discussed future updates for Overton and Woodland Parks and maintenance at Spring Park. 

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Library Director Judith Wright presented a wide range of capital requests, noting the progress made through recent renovations. Technology requests included a new security camera system with a stronger server, replacement of public lab computers with cost-saving Chromeboxes. Building needs focused on adding a lactation pod in the children’s department, ADA-compliant courtyard doors, an additional AC unit, and ongoing meeting room renovations. Other projects included outdoor improvements like accessible picnic tables, benches, and bike racks. The final phase of renovations will complete the children’s department, upgrade restrooms (some dating to the 1970s), and update signage and administrative spaces. In addition, the library asked to make its part-time administrative assistant a full-time role starting in January, to better manage grant records and pursue more funding.

Inspection & Permits Director Wyatt Pugh told the committee that the budget would remain mostly steady, with the only real change being contractual services. Several line items were consolidated, including payments for the online citizen access portal, totaling about $55,000 annually. This upgrade will allow contractors to handle business licenses online, creating a one-stop shop and reducing staff workload. Demolition costs of $330,000 were added for abandoned properties, plus funds for any potential tearing down of condemned single-family homes. Officials noted liens will recoup costs from property owners.

City Engineer Cale Smith presented his budget, starting with adding a senior civil engineer position, funding for the upcoming comprehensive plan, library phase 4, Highway 31 tunnel work (to be completed summer '26), stormwater and creek wall fixes, new sidewalks and ADA ramps, Edgewood crosswalk changes, City Hall workspace upgrades, and planning/design for Public Works and an additional Fire Station. The city is also planning to install four pickleball courts near the mega field. Lighting will be handled as a possible add-on to reduce expenses. The conversation wrapped up by projecting five years of capital needs, including fire station construction, senior center renovations, creek wall stabilization, and even exploring a shared indoor gun range with nearby cities.

Watch the video to see all the details presented.

Homewood’s Finance Committee kicked off its 2025–26 budget hearings with City Manager Glen Adams saying the city’s finances are solid and the budget plan being presented is affordable. He highlighted that this year’s process has been more collaborative, giving council members a bigger role up front, and that the budget grows to cover major projects while still protecting reserves and fully funding departments.

Fire Chief Brandon Broadhead, told council members that things stay steady, no new full-time positions, but two part-time inspectors are being added. Ambulance service is performing better, staff levels are full, and new systems will keep tighter tabs on medication, radios, and traffic-signal preemption. Big-ticket items include a new engine arriving in October, a request for a mini-pumper for steep driveways, a $2.8 million ladder truck planned for 2029, several station repairs and upgrades, new vehicles, and early design work for a new Station 2, with long-term talk of a future Station 4.

Police Chief Tim Ross provided the budget presentation asking for three new officers, two to launch a bicycle patrol on the Lakeshore Greenway and one school resource officer largely funded by the school board, plus two new corrections officers and three part-time parking enforcement staff. They are also asked $91,000 for license plate reader software to manage parking permits and enforcement. On the capital side, their request tops $2 million, covering technology and security upgrades, tactical gear, new weapons, 12 replacement vehicles, and two e-bikes.

Watch the video to see all the details presented.