Huntsville passes $21.9 Million budget
Huntsville Council approved the 2024 budget, in the January 29th meeting.
According to the staff report, the budget comes at a 10.68 percent municipal tax rate increase, with a 6.64 percent overall increase (net tax rate increase).
The impact of a property assessed at $300,000 is $137 per year.
The total budget is up 13.31 percent, at $21,991,439, compared to $19,408,056 last year.
The Town is investing $8 million to Operations and Protective Services, $3,780,000 for Community Services, with a budget increase of $672,200 for capital infrastructure, and $230,000 towards this year’s local share for the new hospital.
Other investments include $4,541,250 to Roads, $740,895 to Fleet, $548,500 to Parks, $459,050 to Facilities, and $331,100 to Fire.
The report continues that the Town attributes budget increases to:
- 75 percent annual inflation increases between 2021-2023
- 11 percent population growth between 2014-2021
- Decrease in Covid relief funding
- 44-65 percent increase in costs of goods and services between 2021-2023
- 11-100 percent increase of community service users
In the Consolidated Budget Report, Mayor, Nancy Alcock, said, “I’m confident in the budget we have adopted because it means we can contribute to bringing quality services to our community and maintain the existing service levels.”
Alcock attributed the budget changes to the high inflation and goods and services costs that are a challenge for municipalities as a whole.
She also addressed the population growth as an important factor. “Council recognizes this growth needs to be supported more effectively to continue to service the community.”
She continued, “Huntsville is progressive, we are also preparing the community to meet our future needs. The Town’s 2024 Budget prioritizes community needs while recognizing our residents are feeling inflation too.”
