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Finance committee approves budget revisions, adds $317,000 for Stillman Boulevard Bridge design to pursue $23M BUILD grant
Summary
The Tuscaloosa City finance committee approved Budget Revision No. 6 — including moving $317,000 into the Stillman Boulevard Bridge design to reach full design readiness ahead of an anticipated federal BUILD grant application (about $23 million) — and other transfers including $59,000 to contingency, $228,000 moved from the TPD vehicle line to general fund set‑aside, and $21,000 into neighborhood drainage.
The Tuscaloosa City finance committee approved a multi‑part budget revision that reallocates several project balances and advances the Stillman Boulevard Bridge toward full design in preparation for a planned federal BUILD grant application.
City staff (Speaker 2) told the committee Budget Revision No. 6 has four parts. Part (a) closes out the Alberta Bridge lighting project and transfers a $59,000 underrun to contingency. Part (b) requests $317,000 be moved into the Stillman Boulevard Bridge project to complete design work, pay railroad review costs and allow the city to apply competitively for an expected BUILD grant of about $23,000,000. Speaker 2 summarized prior funding: “In 2024, we budgeted $1,500,000 towards the planning of this, of this project.”
On grant strategy, staff said the city previously applied for a VIP (bridge improvement) grant and received high marks but did not secure the award; finishing design and adding match money would strengthen future applications. Speaker 2 explained that while the area’s federal designations could allow 100% federal funding, declining to include local match may reduce competitiveness: “we are not required to attach a match. We could do a 100% federally funded if we wanted to. I do not necessarily… It lessens your competitiveness.” Staff estimated a likely match of roughly 17 percent, or about $4,000,000, if the city pursues a match.
Committee members compared the request to a prior University Boulevard project that required significant right‑of‑way purchase and faced steep construction inflation. City staff (Speaker 3 and Speaker 4) said Stillman’s environmental review (NEPA) and engineer selection are complete, and expected right‑of‑way needs are much smaller — approximately four homes on the north side and a limited acquisition at a warehouse on the south side.
Parts (c) and (d) of the budget revision moved $228,000 out of the TPD take‑home vehicle line to a general‑fund transfer (set aside after 2019 bond timing adjustments) and reallocated $21,000 from Cypress Creek Drainage Phase 2 back into neighborhood storm‑drain projects because Noah’s Ark Phase 2 will cover Cypress Creek overall.
The committee moved, seconded, and approved the bundled Budget Revision No. 6. The meeting also approved General Fund Revision No. 7 to place the freed vehicle funds toward the public safety RSA restricted amount. Staff said the administration plans to proceed with the BUILD grant application and may return to the finance committee next week with a formal application request.
