[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6269405,"mediaKeyId","3043491-11998d3be0f5f1d286f0bff6e3b182bc","parentId",3043491,"title","Irondale outlines completed and planned capital projects including dog park, ballfields, library and civic center redevelopment","audioSeconds",110,"startMs",1389000,"endMs",1499000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3043491-11998d3be0f5f1d286f0bff6e3b182bc&start=1389&end=1499","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3043491-11998d3be0f5f1d286f0bff6e3b182bc/thumbnail_1389000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6269405/Irondale-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Irondale-outlines-completed-and-planned-capital-projects-including-dog-park-ballfields-library-and-civic-center-redevelopment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269405-ac8866315fabcf921b4066801a47d233/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180132&Signature=cBTnNbUGyuixaEVrW2II29-I9Y6FmnUqy59NYeiwebcDD0Up~hnZrLB5A3ZAndEBACJd6T1FrmWdQFco~PU3211JnptVulc9gL0u6DxL~a~ob7STbwEsX1frnHuwtVvZvZgw2TAwVjiTQo~c3-kxy0~d63ZEGc-QZkp-X0UmDj82G3LYnBNyC9LXbvekftn2JXcJQcFUsxK1ve49zxNMDQXKHgu~M6~P7ZSLi1mi9Fwv4FPREz2tAkTnn16LQwxWTqcfifnY4rFc7SZjRZOiTdXhOOcPqoiR3fe3c3ft7mr2V~bOa07HtqoMbw~I0dxpnK22z1pX193Y~b~beB7Y5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Irondale City, Alabama","date","2025-04-17T22:53:08.167Z","article","The mayor of Irondale gave a capital-projects update in the same midyear presentation, describing completed work at a dog park and ongoing or upcoming projects including a sports complex, new library, a new fire station, civic-center redevelopment and plans for a municipal complex and relocated water/public-works site.

Why this matters: those projects involve city capital spending, affect neighborhood traffic and parking, and will shape downtown redevelopment and recreational amenities for residents.

The mayor said the dog-park project (referred to as “Tales of the Rails at Elle Park” in the presentation) has been completed at an approximate cost of $900,000 and is heavily used by residents and visitors. The Ruffner Park Sports Complex — described as three fields with a large concession stand — opened for games; the mayor said construction cost was about $8.4 million and that parking proved an early challenge. He thanked Frank Pennington, Jarrett Morris, Boo Wallace and Brad Dawes for creating about 100 additional parking spaces for game days.

On the library, the mayor said project leaders met with staff and that officials expect to receive keys to the new building on June 23 with move-in and opening activities targeted for mid-August and formal ribbon cutting no later than Sept. 1. He said the library construction had not required change orders and credited project manager Stuart Perry.

The mayor reported that a preconstruction meeting for a new Fire Station No. 3 took place in April, with Argo Construction identified as the contractor; the mayor estimated construction would take 12 to 18 months. He also said the city recently acquired 43 acres for a civic center for $300,000 and that the civic-center renovation will go out to bid (bids due June 18 was stated). The civic center project, the mayor said, is estimated to be around $18 million and will include playgrounds, a splash pad, an amphitheater, a walking track, a mountain-bike track, picnic amenities and six pickleball courts; the existing dome will be removed and pieces sold to residents who want them.

On longer-range plans, the mayor said the city purchased property to assemble a municipal complex that will house administration, inspections, water, courts, dispatch and police, and that officials are pursuing grants and downtown redevelopment efforts. He said the water department and public-works operations will move to a purchased Ruffner Road site where site preparation is underway.

Ending: the mayor asked residents with questions about project timelines to contact staff and said bids and grant awards will be posted as those processes move forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Townhall Meeting 4/16/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The mayor reported on several completed and active capital projects — including a dog park and sports complex — and provided timelines for the library, new fire station, civic center renovation and municipal complex plans.","taxTitle","Irondale City, Jefferson County, Alabama","taxId",71505,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6269412,"Irondale mayor reports smaller FY25 surplus, large reserves and debt-management plans at midyear review",2759,227000,2986000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3043491-11998d3be0f5f1d286f0bff6e3b182bc&start=227&end=2986","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3043491-11998d3be0f5f1d286f0bff6e3b182bc/thumbnail_227000.jpg","/articles/6269412/Irondale-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Irondale-mayor-reports-smaller-FY25-surplus-large-reserves-and-debt-management-plans-at-midyear-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269412-cd04c694f9cd13a1e80c19f69394bc4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180132&Signature=Q8R5aYp1naMq2k4PhlVLYtAJ2OBBxTrH5kT6PbRG8mPrLVTsf6hok4mfT4k88CUUItaoScAVBEPz9Pm3BpF6PObMKP~2TZndXbm3eu-BSCf~wKzV1yUfcJyi01aveeRViTNI1UCZHt~Z~Uz4x5YsWilPSEz1YO30Z4umFaP-XMlSLAjjSWnA1~dOOlSq9std7M3cigCxrEMrawctAUcUwPyVsC7ejt5SZrCgzlku9lFU5U-OIRTvJHcW--MykbFXaO~jJirxzfyNuizUNbQGGnEXBiCA55-X1aKBNw1YN77auYXP2PiiyC~7eO~51DKPWBVQ-alOpVERERhBMbBJNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a midyear budget presentation, the mayor of Irondale provided an update on the city’s audited FY24 numbers and proposed FY25 adjustments, saying those changes reduced the FY25 projected surplus to roughly $1 million while reserves remain well above the city’s policy minimum.

The mayor said audited FY24 revenue was about $37.5 million, expenses were roughly $30–31 million and the city posted a surplus of about $6 million. The FY25 budget originally projected roughly $36.0 million in revenue and $33.0 million in expenses, producing a projected surplus of about $3 million. The mayor said midyear adjustments have reduced projected FY25 revenue and increased expenses, trimming the surplus to about $1 million as of the presentation.

Why this matters: the adjustments change the city’s near-term spending flexibility and affect funding available for capital projects and reserves. The mayor emphasized that Irondale retains a sizable reserve balance and is pursuing options to manage outstanding debt.

The mayor described several specific revenue and expense changes that contributed to the reduced FY25 surplus. Noted revenue changes included lower ad valorem receipts (the mayor said the original projection of $4.0 million is now expected to be closer to $3.3 million) and a reduction tied to an occupational license fee cut of 0.25 percentage points, which the mayor said lowered that line by about $300,000. A business-license fee rollback was listed as a $450,000 reduction. On the positive side, the mayor said state grants for recycling and a sidewalk project increased state grant revenue by about $500,000, and federal grant funding for paving Grants Mill Road increased a federal grant line by about $460,000 (the mayor described a $700,000 paving grant with an 80/20 split).

Among top expense changes cited were a 4% cost-of-living adjustment for retirees (stated cost about $111,000), higher engineering services expense (+about $157,000) and added fire-department overtime (+about $133,000) tied to operating two ambulance transports instead of hiring additional personnel.

The mayor said the city’s unrestricted cash balance was $18,670,313.16 and restricted funds totaled $6,270,530.81. He described the city’s reserve policy as targeting 25% of projected expenditures and said the administration now intends to maintain a reserve of roughly 40% of projected expenditures; the mayor said the current reserve balance is about $15 million and includes an emergency stabilization fund of $728,000 that the council must authorize to use.

On debt, the mayor described a significant outstanding bond and water debt load and outlined several management approaches: no plans to incur new debt, seeking refunding opportunities where interest savings exceed thresholds (he cited a 2% interest-rate reduction rule of thumb), and working on a five-year strategic plan to improve cashflow and reduce short-term leases. The mayor discussed specific bond series under review (2014C and 2015 A/B/C were mentioned) and said underwriters have reviewed refunding prospects but no refunding opportunities exist at present.

The mayor said the administration will provide to the council and post to ClearGov month-to-date financial statements and the FY24 unaudited statements and budget adjustment documents that show the adjustments discussed; he said the council will consider an amended FY25 budget for adoption.

The mayor invited questions and reiterated that the city intends to avoid new debt, maintain robust reserves and pursue refunding only if economically favorable.

Ending: the mayor closed the session by noting the administration will circulate the detailed financial statements and budget adjustments for the council’s review and asked residents to contact the city clerk with further questions.","At a midyear budget presentation, Irondale officials reported FY24 audited results, proposed FY25 adjustments that reduced the projected surplus to roughly $1 million, affirmed healthy reserves and outlined debt-management actions and capital funding updates.","actionData","errors"]

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Irondale outlines completed and planned capital projects including dog park, ballfields, library and civic center redevelopment

Irondale mayor reports smaller FY25 surplus, large reserves and debt-management plans at midyear review