Foley’s City Council has approved an $85.6 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, allocating significant funds toward major capital projects to support the city’s rapid growth. The budget, set to take effect on Oct. 1, includes funding for a new library-community center, road improvements, and expansion of the Graham Creek Nature Preserve, among other initiatives.

Additional details about the new budget are provided below…

Foley plans major projects to meet the demands of one of Alabama’s fastest growing cities in the upcoming year.

The Foley City Council voted Tuesday, Sept. 3, to approve the budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The budget includes more than $85 million in capital projects. 

Projects planned for the upcoming year include the new library, completion of the Public Works campus and expansion of the Graham Creek Nature Preserve.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich praised the work done by city staff members in working for several months to prepare the new budget. The city has also been working for several years to continue to deal with the rapid growth in the area.

“We started in ‘21, recognizing the growth around our area – because people love Foley and they love South Baldwin,” Hellmich said. “So, we are very aggressive, passing a budget that has another record number of capital works projects that includes parks, infrastructure and roads.”

Mike Thompson, city administrator, said the budget includes $85.6 million in capital projects. Foley will get almost $40 million in grants and bond revenue to pay some of that cost. Funding sources include appropriations such as $2 million for the new library project acquired through the efforts of U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl.

The city also has $65.5 million in reserve funds, which can pay some of the additional costs.

“The biggest item is the new library-community center. That's about a $20 million to $22 million project. We anticipate that will break ground in January,” Thompson said. “We have a nature preserve land acquisition. A good bit of this is through grants. It's about $14.9 million for additional acreage that we could put into the Graham Creek Preserve.”

The Public Works Department campus will be completed in the upcoming year at a cost of about $16 million. The city has also budgeted $5.8 million for a safe room to shelter first responders during a hurricane or other disaster. Another $5 million has been budgeted for property for a future industrial park.

The budget also includes $4.7 million for the completion of improvements now taking place on the Foley Beach Express.

Other capital projects include improvements and renovations at Fire Station No. 1 at a cost of about $1.1 million. The city has budgeted an additional $1 million for sidewalk improvements and $1.3 million for road resurfacing. 

In addition to the construction projects, Foley has also budgeted $4.9 million in capital purchases. That total includes a new recycling truck and an automated collection truck for the Sanitation Department, 10 new police vehicles and several trucks for the Street Department.

Thompson said city revenue exceeded budget projections in the fiscal year that will end Sept. 30. 

Revenue had been projected to be $63.7 million when the current budget was approved a year ago. The final total is expected to be $71.2 million by the end of the month.

The upcoming budget includes a revenue estimate of $72.5 million. Thompson said several major businesses are expected to open in Foley in the upcoming year. New businesses and growth in existing businesses should add to municipal tax revenue.

Expenses, however, stayed close to budget projections, finishing the year at $54 million.