Foley will continue to meet the growing needs of the community under the city budget approved for the upcoming year.
The Foley City Council voted Tuesday, Sept. 8, to approve the municipal budgets for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the new budget includes more improvements for Foley.
“In last year’s budget, we finished two major projects that cost approximately $38 million, the library and the Public Works Campus, which are outstanding facilities,” Hellmich said. “This year’s projects amount to about $18 million. That includes the new Aquatic Center, Senior Center, redoing the old library building, redoing the former public works for horticulture and our parks division and generally making our city more efficient.”
City Administrator Mike Thompson said that while Foley’s population has increased 70% in the last decade, services have kept up with growth without increasing debt.
“The fact that we’ve been able to keep our debt at such a relatively low limit for a city of our size is extraordinary. You don’t see that typically when cities are growing at the speed that we see. Most of the time, they’re doing it with debt,” Thompson said. “The simple fact is that we’re able to hold our debt where it’s at, while our city just continues to grow and the revenue grows, the population grows. Those ratios just get better and better because of what we’re able to do.”
The city will have more than $48 million in the General Fund balance, money saved from past budgets, by the end of the current budget. Thompson said some of that balance will pay for expenses such as capital equipment purchases.
He said the purchases will bring the General Fund balance to $34.4 million. The city’s self-imposed minimum balance is at least $25.7 million.
“We’re well above our minimum fund balance that we self-impose, but it also indicates our intention to use some of our excess general fund money to fund portions of our capital projects,” Thompson said.
The 2027 budget calls for $7.2 million in capital equipment purchases. Acquisitions include $1.8 million in fire equipment, $1.9 million in police equipment, $1.8 million in public works equipment, $800,000 in sanitation equipment and about $900,000 for other city departments’ capital equipment needs.
Foley anticipates approximately $75.1 million in recurring General Fund revenue in the new budget, an increase of approximately $3.8 million over the projected total for the current fiscal year.
Investing in Foley’s infrastructure
Roads, drainage and pedestrian improvements remain a significant part of the city’s capital program.
Foley’s FY2027 plan continues its ongoing street resurfacing program with funding for both design and paving. The city maintains about 180 miles of roads. The long-range pavement planning is designed to establish a sustainable resurfacing cycle as the transportation network continues to expand.
The capital plan also includes a number of street and connectivity projects throughout Foley. Among them are pedestrian improvements along West Peachtree Avenue, Ninth Avenue and South Pecan Street near Parish Lakes, as well as a sidewalk along Riviera Boulevard.
The proposed South Pecan Street project includes a pedestrian crossing and traffic-calming improvements, while the Ninth Avenue path would create a connection between Alabama 59 and Pine Street.
The plan also includes drainage improvements. The Graham Creek Estates Drainage Project will address structural flooding along Palmetto Way, with design planned in FY2027 and construction anticipated in FY2028. The city is also planning replacement of aging pipes in Bay Forest and specialized lining of existing storm drain pipes in areas where standard equipment cannot work on the lines.
The city will also improve drainage in the Mills community while work is also going on to add sidewalks. Foley is also continuing drainage upgrades in Beulah Heights after the completion of the downstream detention basin.
Other road projects in the capital plan include continued work along Cedar Street, Wilson/Equestrian Park Road and planning for improvements to West Lawson and Pine streets.
Strengthening public safety
In addition to capital equipment purchases for public safety, the budget also includes technology integration for the city’s Communications Center to enhance operational awareness, dispatch functions, communications analysis and training.
The city is also looking beyond the upcoming fiscal year and planning for future public safety facilities. Foley’s capital plan identifies a future new Police Headquarters as well as continued planning for a Northeast Quadrant Fire Station. The fire station is part of the city’s effort to anticipate service needs as development expands into new areas of Foley.
Continuing investment in city facilities
Foley’s capital program also includes major investments in the facilities that allow the city to serve residents efficiently. Work on the new Public Works campus remains one of the city’s major capital investments.
The multi-year project represents approximately $17.9 million in total planned investment and will provide facilities to support the department responsible for maintaining much of Foley’s growing infrastructure.
The five-year plan also includes a new Civic Center, with planning funds identified ahead of future construction. The city will also repurpose the former library building as an administrative annex, creating additional office space for city departments by using an existing structure.
Improving connectivity and community spaces
The budget continues Foley’s investment in projects designed to make the city more connected and enhance established areas of the community.
The capital plan includes the West Orange Avenue Streetscape, extending from Alston Street to Pine Street, along with planning for future streetscape improvements in other areas. The city is also developing a larger streetscape concept around the Baldwin Health area in north Foley.
That concept includes portions of Alston, Peachtree, Rosetta, Camellia and Pine streets and Alabama 59. The design is the first step in a multi-year project.
Investments in recreation and accessibility are included as well, with equipment and transportation purchases supporting parks, nature parks, sports facilities and the Foley Senior Center.
Planning beyond one budget year
Foley’s financial planning extends beyond the upcoming fiscal year. The city uses a multi-year capital planning process to identify future needs and determine not only the cost of constructing facilities and purchasing equipment, but also the personnel and operational costs those investments will create in future budgets.
That approach is reflected in plans for future fire and police facilities, continued road resurfacing, drainage improvements, airport development, streetscapes, pedestrian connectivity and community facilities.
At the Foley Municipal Airport, for example, the capital program includes continued work toward a new terminal building along with future hangar, drainage, runway, lighting and signage improvements.
“The goal is not simply to keep up with growth, but to prepare for it,” Hellmich said. “The decisions we make now will shape how Foley functions five, 10 and 20 years from now. We want to make those decisions carefully and continue investing in the things that make Foley a strong community.”