Commission approves FY 2021 budget

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The budget for Shelby County was approved by the County Commission during their Sept. 14 meeting. 

The total revenues for FY21 were $112,300,872, which is down over $7 million from FY20. Total proposed expenditures are down over $9 million for FY21 at $109,395,975.

The Shelby County Water System had projected total revenues for FY21 at $12,053,875 and $10,772,351 in expenses. 

The Shelby County Landfill FY21 budget totaled $3,442,622 in expenses which included over $2 million for construction equipment including a track hoe, compactor, skid steer, crawler dozer, fuel truck and other upgrades. Revenues totaled $5,345,000.

Commissioner Lindsey Allison thanked the staff for their work and said this year’s budget process was excellent.

“I appreciate the due diligence before coming to us and meeting with everybody,” Allison said. “In the middle of a pandemic we have a lot of what if’s and appreciate the jobs you’ve all done to sponsor this resolution for the budget. 

During the county managers report, Chad Scroggins gave an update on construction at the Shelby County Services 280 building and said lots of progress is being made and they are entering good months for construction.  

After over 12 years, the Inverness Greenway project is scheduled to begin on Sept. 25. It will include 1.725 miles of sidewalk from the Hoover fire station to Veterans Park. The county is splitting the cost match with the city of Hoover.

Also, with the passing of the FY21 budget, there will be the restart of the parks and recreation grants.

“We are excited to be able to do that again and will probably have January as a time frame for those who want to apply,” Scroggins said.

Scroggins said the county is doing a final push for the 2020 census. While Shelby County is leading the state, Alabama is last in the nation at under 80% completion. For those who have not completed the census, it’s not too late. Visit 2020census.gov to complete it online. 

During the county engineer’s report, Randy Cole added that our state gas tax is proportionate based on census data and if Shelby County has the highest percentage, it will help the numbers go up and the county will definitely see an increase.

Cole mentioned the potential rains and flooding coming from Tropical Storm Sally hitting Shelby County later this week and said they are planning for the worst but hoping for the best. The department is also making progress on resurfacing projects, including Co. Road 55 that is almost complete. 

After making changes to the original plan for the traffic light at Hugh Daniel Drive and Co. Road 41, the project will be advertised in the next several weeks. Only one bidder responded initially, and the cost was a quarter million over budget. 

“We rejected it and redesigned it with different poles,” Cole said. “The city of Hoover will maintain it and we sent them the revised plans.” 

Property tax commissioner Don Armstrong said there will be no extension on property taxes, but if residents need to set up a payment plan, they can contact his office to do so. 

Also during the meeting:

  • The commission also approved a 0.67% consumer price increase for Republic Services for the current Shelby County curbside garbage and recyclables collection contract effective Oct. 1. Customers will see an eight cents per month increase.
  • The holiday and payroll calendar for FY21 was approved 
  • A military backfill position request was approved for the sheriff to employ a replacement deputy while another deputy reports for a one year active military service. 
  • It was announced that absentee voting will take place at the Shelby County Exhibition Center in Columbiana. 

The next commission meeting will be Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Shelby County Administration building in Columbiana.