During a recent public hearing on Birmingham’s proposed $615 million budget, residents called for increased funding for neighborhood associations. Tremain McIntosh, president of the Wylam neighborhood association, emphasized the need for more resources to host community events and improve local amenities. He advocated for restoring the annual funding to $10,000, a level seen in previous years before cuts reduced it to $2,000.
McIntosh expressed his hope for an amendment to the budget, stating, “We’ve got to make sure this future is being passed to the people below us.” The funding cuts were initially implemented during former Mayor Larry Langford’s administration from 2007 to 2009.
Councilor Crystal Smitherman noted that some neighborhood associations had significant unused funds, with balances reaching up to $50,000. This was partly due to periods without active officers, which stalled spending. Oxmoor Valley Neighborhood President Madelyn Greene highlighted the limitations of their $11,000 fund, suggesting that neighborhoods actively using their funds should receive more support.
The proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year anticipates a $20 million increase in revenue, with plans to allocate more funds to transportation, violence prevention, and homeless outreach services. Councilor Clinton Woods, chair of the council’s budget committee, invited residents to share their comments or requests via email.
Original reporting: BirminghamWatch — read the source article.
