CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman City Council on Monday evening passed a $93.8 million budget for fiscal year 2021, a 2.04% decrease from FY 2020. The General Fund budget increased 2.65% to more than $38.3 million due to pay increases and conversion of employee retirement funds from Tier II to Tier I. The budget includes a 2.6% cost of living increase for City employees, and the City is picking up increases to family insurance policies this year.
General Fund Budget
- FY2021 $ 38,378,448
- FY2020 $ 37,386,376
Total Budget
- FY2021 $ 93,833,075
- FY2020 $ 95,791,053
Budget details
- General Fund $ 38,378,448 (2020 – $37,389,376); +2.65% Increase for pay increase & converting Tier 2 to Tier 1City Schools Property and Sales Taxes $ 7,792,000 (2020 – $7,300,000); +6.74% Increased collections (city portion only)
- Rebuild Alabama Gas Tax Fund $70,000 (Not in FY 2020); new gas tax
- 4 Cent Gas Tax Fund $94,700 (2020 – $100,000); -5.30% Decreased collections
- 7 Cent Gas Tax Fund $164,000 (2020 – $173,000); -5.20% Decreased collections
- Industrial Purpose Fund $164,000 (2020 – $204,000); -19.61% Decreased transfers
- Alabama Capital Trust Fund $289,600 (2020 – $135,000); +114.52% Increased collections
- Corrections and Court Fund $25,000 (2020 – $130,000); -80.77% Decreased collections
- Judicial Administration Fund $13,000 (2020 – $83,000); -84.34% Decreased collections
- Industrial Park Fund $101,000 (2020 – $102,500); -1.46% Decreased transfers
- Industrial Access Road Fund $10,000 (2020 – $10,000); 0.00% Level funding
- Cullman Building Account $0 (2020 – $435,000); -100.00% No building projects in this fund
- Parks and Recreation Construction Fund $ 1,968,000 (2020 – $16,000); +12,200 % Nesmith, Heritage, RV Park, East Side, etc.
- Transportation Enhancement Fund $95,000 (2020 – $118,500); -19.83% Decreased transfers
- Downtown Revitalization Fund $1,100,000 (2020 – $800,000); +37.50% First Avenue project
- CDBG Neighborhood Project Fund $ 450,000 (2020 -$790,000); -43.04% Katherine Street project
- Debt Service Funds $ 1,396,650 (2020 – $1,574,080); -11.27% Old Bond Issue retired
- City of Cullman Sewer Fund $ 7,806,336 (2020 – $7,475,543); +4.43% Increased capital needs
- City of Cullman Water Fund $ 18,591,300 (2020 – $19,086,000); -2.59% Decreased capital needs
- Utilities Board Water Division Fund $ 10,496,886 (2020 – $12,128,942); -13.46% Duck River Construction completed
- Cullman Regional Airport Fund $ 1,364,393 (2020 – $3,503,613); -61.06% Taxiway project in FY2020
- Cullman City Parks and Recreation Fund $ 3,462,762 (2020 – $4,236,499); -18.26% Heritage Park repairs from Hailstorm
Total City Budget $ 93,833,075 (2020 – $95,791,053); -2.04% Due to decrease in Debt Service and Capital Projects
Capital projects in FY 2021
- Administration – Purchase land for East Side Park – $150,000
- Street – Neighborhood street paving, West Main Avenue – total $3,500,000
- Police/Dispatch – Patrol units, various equipment – total $343,134
- Fire Rescue – Various equipment – $42,300
- Traffic – 1st Avenue and 2nd Street intersection, 10 camera systems – total $189,200
- Sanitation – Automated trucks and containers – $1,512,525
- Sewer – Inspection camera and van, pull heads for pipe bursting, vac truck – total $670,000
- Wastewater Treatment Plant – Two crew trucks, tractor with bucket, three rangers/gators – total $150,000
- Water – Excavator, backhoe, two skid steers, compacting roller, telescopic handler, three air brake trailers, five crew trucks – total $986,000
- Parks and Recreation – Nesmith Park ($450,000 grant), Heritage Park, Burrow RV Camping Nature Park, East Side Community Park – total $2,018,000
As part of the budget, the council approved renewed community service agreements with:
- American Legion Post #4 of Cullman
- Brooks’ Place Child Advocacy Center of Cullman
- Childhaven
- Cullman 310 Authority
- Cullman Area Mental Health (Wellstone)
- Cullman Caring for Kids
- Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce
- Cullman Community Band, Inc
- Cullman County Commission on Aging
- Cullman County EMA
- Cullman County Extension Service
- Cullman County Health Department
- Cullman County Historical Society
- Cullman County Public Library
- Cullman Soil and Water
- Cullman Downtown Merchants Association
- Cullman Farmers Market Steering Committee
- Cullman Regional Medical Center
- VFW Post 2214
- First Source for Women of Cullman County
- Good Samaritan Health Clinic
- Grace Place of Cullman
- Hope Horses, Inc.
- North Alabama Agriplex
- Pilot Light, Inc.
- The Liberty Learning Foundation of Alabama
- The Link of Cullman County
- United Way of Cullman County
- Victim Services of Cullman, Inc.
Other council business
The council also approved:
- Special event request from Melissa Hudson of The Crossing Church to hold a worship service, music, testimonies and prayers at Heritage Park’s Wal-Mart Pavilion Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020 from 1:30-9 p.m.
- Special event request from Nathanial Hutchinson for the annual turkey shoot held at the Cullman Moose Lodge every Saturday in November and December
- Special event request from Kari Driver for a 5K run Nov. 21, 2020 to benefit Cullman Christian School
- Resolution to apply for ALDOT grant assistance to install and upgrade safety features at the Arnold Street rail crossing
- Resolution to reject the bids for Nesmith Park project; all bids came in above the budget.
- Ordinance to annex 1528 Catoma Lane NE into the city limits of Cullman as a residential district. The ordinance passed on a first reading by suspension of regular rules of procedure.
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