Mayor reports stronger October revenues, $100,000 food-bank donation and holiday events
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Summary
Mayor reported stronger October fiscal collections, credited large events and new hospitality capacity for growth, announced a $100,000 donation to Heart of Alabama Food Bank (estimated 500,000 meals), and previewed upcoming Veterans and holiday events and a city turkey giveaway.
Mayor (speaker 9) told the City Council the first month of fiscal 2026 showed encouraging revenue gains. Sales and use tax collections rose about 2.5% year over year for October 2025 and 5.2% compared with September, while lodging taxes increased about 9.8% year over year. The mayor attributed the gains to high-profile local events, including the Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic (relocated to Montgomery) and Alabama State University's homecoming, along with new hospitality capacity such as the recent openings of the Elevation Convening Center and a Home2 Suites by Hilton in July.
The mayor also said the city's gasoline-tax collections grew substantially after the council adopted an additional 3-cent gas tax earmarked for road paving and bridge repairs. He cautioned that monthly revenue figures can be volatile because of reporting corrections.
On community relief, the mayor announced a $100,000 city donation to the Heart of Alabama Food Bank to help residents affected by the federal government shutdown and SNAP reductions; he said the contribution will go toward roughly 500,000 meals. The mayor also described a city-run turkey giveaway on Nov. 22 at the Walmart Supercenter on Anne Street (one turkey per car) and invited residents to multiple commemorative events tied to the 70th anniversary of the Montgomery bus boycott.
The mayor highlighted public-safety milestones, including the Montgomery Police Department's recent academy graduation of 25 recruits, some from neighboring jurisdictions, and thanked department leadership for recruitment efforts. He encouraged council follow-up on school-based intervention ideas and pledged further coordination with community grantees using ARPA funds.
The mayor closed by urging residents to support local giving and attend upcoming parades, tree-lightings and the Turkey Day Classic events that he said bring economic activity to the city.