Gulf Shores Plans Year-Ending Budget Surplus
John Mullen • December 2, 2024
Budget surplus and pub crawl expected in council discussions
As the budget year winds down, Gulf Shores announces it will have a budget surplus of more than $438,000 headed into the new budget year on Jan. 1. Gulf Shores, like Orange Beach, because of the tourist industry economy, doesn’t do the fiscal year budget like most local governments in the county spanning Oct. 1-Sept. 30.
The city council will meet for the final time in a joint regular/work session on Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. in council chambers at city hall.
For the year, Gulf Shores generated $298 million in revenue and had expenses totaling $281 million.
During the meeting, the council will also:
- Hear the annual National Shrimp Festival poster presentation.
- Consider a public assembly permit for the annual Polar Bear Dip at the public beach Jan. 1 south of the Hangout and organized by the Kiwanis Club.
- Discuss another public assembly permit for the Papa Rocco’s St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl.
- Consider permits for 2025 for the Gulf Coast Regional Volleyball Association for events Feb. 21-23, March 8-9, April 17-19, May 1-4, Oct. 4, Oct. 11, Nov. 1 and Nov. 8-9.
- Discuss changing the fee schedule for the Bodenhamer Recreation and the Cultural Center Studio Fitness. For residents, the rate will be $300 for an annual single, $375 for an annual couple and $450 for a family. Senior prices will be $240 for a single, $305 for a couple and $365 for a family.
- Consider a resolution of a contract with Baldwin County for the use of voting machines and support staff for municipal elections.
- Discuss renewing two contracts with lobbying services for the city. Van Scoyoc Associates is responsible for lobbying on the federal level and with Christie Strategy Group at the state level.
- Discuss rescheduling council meetings in 2025 due to municipal holidays including Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day and canceling the meetings of Dec. 15 and Dec. 22.
- Consider an amendment to the conditional use permit for the Gulf Shores Landfill’s five-year closure plan.
- Hear requests from several taxi companies to renew franchises to operate in the city in 2025. Those are A-1 Ms. Mary Taxi Service, Bama Beach Shuttle, Beach Buggy Taxi, Beach Express Taxi, Blue Dolphin Taxi Gulf Coast, Coast Cab,
- Coastal Express Shuttle, Crozzzzcabz, Gulf Logistics Platinum Chauffeured
- Transportation Service and Robins Rides.
Recent Posts
A music festival which once drew mixed reactions from local residents turned into "Sand In My Boots", which local businesses and residents cheered. At the July 28, 2025, regular meeting, the Gulf Shores City Council approved a closely watched one-year extension of the franchise agreement for the Hangout Music Festival—
With all the live music and concert the Alabama coast is often called "Nashville on the Beach". Now that connection just became stronger, easier and cheaper. In a press release Allegiant Air announced seven new nonstop routes connecting 12 cities across the country, including a match made in music heaven:
A bar that has faced scrutiny in the past and denied a conditional use permit to continue operating is going back to the Gulf Shores City Council for another try. SingPlayDance is seeking the CUP in the old Cohiba Dunes space in the Pelican Place shopping complex.