Mayor Maddox outlines capital projects recommendations, highlights savings center funding and drainage reserves

Mayor Maddox presented the citys capital projects budget recommendations to the Finance Committee, asking the council to review funding priorities and scheduling for FY 2025 and later years. He told the committee there is no water-and-sewer recommendation at this time pending bond refinancing and reimbursement, and that $14,500,000 is available from the general-fund reserve for future improvements after set-asides from a roughly $19,000,000 general-fund surplus.

The capital plan covers dozens of line items from small equipment to multi-million-dollar projects. "It is, it's hard to believe that April has rolled around, and it's another year of presenting capital projects," Mayor Maddox said while reviewing the spreadsheet of recommendations. He said the administration has aligned projects from least to most expensive and explained the timing rationale for pre-purchasing long-lead items.

Why it matters: The package moves funding proposals for neighborhood-level improvements (striping, sidewalks, small park projects) alongside major, multiyear projects that rely on a mix of city cash flow, state and federal grants, private fundraising and bond issuances. Several projects will be eligible for reimbursement after bond closings, and some larger projects are timed to avoid locking in construction costs until bids and interest-rate assumptions are clearer.

Key allocations and project details noted in the presentation: - Available general-fund reserve (RFFI): $14,500,000 (city surplus for FY 2024 reported at about $19,000,000). The administration said reserve calculations and set-asides will be reviewed in upcoming budget hearings. - Small equipment and compliance: mower replacements ($35,000); ADA compliance funding for sidewalks and curb improvements (amount not separately broken out beyond inclusion in the general-fund list). - Riverwalk bridge replacement: engineering and construction funding for an additional riverwalk bridge, cost cited at about $85,000 for the identified bridge near Morris Burnes. - Lake Tuscaloosa bridge engineering: preliminary engineering for a bridge west of the dam (timeline: 5—10 years replacement plan). - Powell Gym: recommended city takeover of maintenance and repairs (floor, roof and other refurbishing) after a review of building condition and community programming value. - Security cameras escrow: creation of a…