What: the City's 2026-27 General Fund and Capital Improvement Fund budgets.
Where it stands: Public hearing September 8, adoption resolution held one week on September 15, adopted September 22 (resolution 09-979-2026) after floor amendments. The recorded amendments moved Mobile Arena account money (Port City Classic, events operating, Library) and passed 6-1 with Ben Reynolds opposed; a further amendment zeroing the remaining $600,000 arena operations line passed unanimously.
Next: none recorded; the FY28 budget cycle has not started.
Details
Amendments after the fifth in the minutes were not read; the final budget total and the final adopted vote are not stated here.
Residents raised Port City Classic funding and the FY27 budget during non-agenda comments on September 1.
The Finance Committee met on September 8 and 15 (video only; content not reviewed).
Video: At the public hearing speakers questioned line items and urged protecting drainage and infrastructure funds; in later comments a speaker asked council to reconsider eliminating $400,000 for the Port City Classic and $100,000 for the Bridge Builder Classic while raising the Gulf Coast Challenge from $500,000 to $600,000.
Residents raised the FY27 budget and Port City Classic funding; one speaker asked to restore event funding and proposed dissolving the Office of Professional Responsibility (said to free $735,648). A council member said the mayor's budget is now in the Council's hands.
Finance staff briefed the committee: 1.7% revenue growth assumed, about $135 million for public safety, $14.9 million for transit expansion, a merit raise annualized at about $3.6 million; no votes.