Mayor Stimpson Applauds Fiscal Year 2017 Budget

Sep 27th, 2016

Mobile, Ala.- Following Mayor Stimpson's presentation of a balanced, fiscally responsible budget, the City Council unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget during Tuesday's regular Council meeting.

The budget maintains general fund expenditures in line with previous years while improving the compensation, training and upgrading equipment of the City's police and fire-rescue departments .

"The first three years of this administration have been built upon responsible, fiscal stewardship," said Mayor Stimpson. "As a City, we continue to strive for excellence. We are achieving this by securing our financial future, investing in our children and making the police and firefighters pay competitive."

The Mobile Police Department (MPD) will have an across the board pay raise (minimum of $5,000 per sworn officer) that moves MPD's baseline pay into a more competitive range while compensating those already on the force with reasonable and deserved adjustments. Approximately 270 members of the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department (at rank of District Chief and below) who have not benefited from 2007 Paramedic and Assignment Pay Incentive Program will also receive a permanent $5,000 raise.

"The primary responsibility of government is the safety and security of the public," said Mayor Stimpson. "For far too long, we have neglected the very men and women that we have tasked with providing that safety. We have a nationally recognized police force and fire-rescue department, and we must take better care of them if we expect them to take better care of us. I remain committed to ensuring that we are offering competitive compensation to our employees and this extends beyond just police and fire."

A key component of this year's budget is funding MoveMobile, a youth initiative that invests in youth in new and productive ways. MoveMobile is a citywide comprehensive public-private-community framework to increase intentional opportunities to increase access to mentoring, access to job skill training and employment while decreasing crime and poverty rates.

"While I am disappointed the Council reduced MoveMobile's budget, I am excited about the opportunity to serve the 40,000 young people living in the City of Mobile," said Mayor Stimpson. "Our most precious and vulnerable population needs activities and programs that build their capacity to thrive
as productive citizens."

For the second year in a row, the Administration has collaborated with the City Council to propose a Capital Improvement Plan that encompasses all City Council districts and directly impacts all Mobilians. This sustained focus on streets, bridges, sidewalks, ditches, and parks is a priority for the City's time, energy, and resources.

"To continue transforming the City, we must continue fixing the broken infrastructure in the City," said Mayor Stimpson. "We are persisting in our aggressive, proactive approach to the process of allocating more capital improvement and equipment monies than ever before."