Prattville council adopts $117.3 million budget despite calls for more transparency

The Prattville City Council adopted the city’s fiscal year 2025–26 budgets on Oct. 7, approving a combined total of $117,267,284 for general, special revenue, capital, sanitation and enterprise funds.

Mayor introduced the budget resolution and asked the council to adopt the document as the city’s official FY25–26 budget. During the public comment period residents urged the council to delay adoption until outstanding questions were answered. Jackie Nicks, who attended the budget work session, asked councilors to ensure outstanding questions were answered before voting and suggested holding over the vote if needed. Another resident, Daniel Woodfin, urged the council to reallocate a one‑cent sales tax and said he had provided a 15‑minute explanation to the council.

On the council floor, Councilor Whaley and Councilor Jackson both raised concerns about the timing and transparency of the budget process. Whaley said the budget is a "living document" and urged colleagues to pass it so departments could operate; he warned that many city services depend on enacted budgets. Jackson said he opposed adopting the budget in its current form, saying too many questions remained unanswered: he requested the HR pay study that had been asked for by councilors and citizens and said he wanted more documentation of expenditures and clarity around community initiatives and how certain city funds were awarded.

Councilors discussed tradeoffs: several said a delay would hamper payroll and departmental operations and impede HR's ability to apply cost‑of‑living and merit adjustments if the budget were not enacted promptly. The council also noted the budget could be amended later; multiple speakers said budget amendments are common.

After discussion the council voted to adopt the combined FY25–26 budgets as presented. Councilors and members of the public said they intend to continue oversight through amendments, follow‑up questions, and requests for additional documentation. The mayor and staff said department heads had been contacted during the process and that certain items would be the subject of future supplemental reports, including a structural assessment and options for the library building.

What was decided: Resolution to adopt the FY25–26 combined budget (general operating fund, gas tax special revenue fund, debt service fund, capital projects fund, sanitation enterprise fund, wastewater enterprise fund, and judicial special revenue fund) — adopted. Council recorded the combined total in the motion and moved forward with implementation.

Key figures: combined budget total listed in the resolution: $117,267,284.