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Montgomery mayor reports revenue gains, urges support for House Bill 450
Summary
Mayor Stephen L. Reed told the council the city’s February revenues strengthened the general fund and urged local support for House Bill 450, a state gun-safety measure; he also announced federal grants, a mayoral internship and a new online payments portal.
Mayor Stephen L. Reed reported that February collections showed a stronger fiscal picture for Montgomery, telling the council that sales and use tax receipts rose year over year and account for about 46% of the city’s general fund budget. "February 2026 sales and use tax revenue collections increased by 7.3% compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year," Reed said, adding that gas-tax and alcoholic-beverage collections also rose while lodging taxes softened.
Reed framed the revenue update as part of a broader push on public safety and local services. He urged support for House Bill 450, describing it as a "common sense gun safety bill" that would require individuals carrying a firearm in certain municipalities to present ballot identification during law-enforcement encounters. Reed said the measure would provide "a clear standardized tool to help law enforcement improve accountability." He also said the city opposes any sales-tax holiday for gun purchases.
Nut graf: The mayor used the regular update to highlight both the city’s improving revenue trends and ongoing public-safety priorities, while announcing local initiatives and federal awards intended to support workforce and infrastructure development. Reed noted the finance department is completing the annual comprehensive financial report before the March 31 submission date.
Reed announced two federal awards he described as exceeding $3 million in total: $2,000,000 for the Alabama Capital Maxwell Gateway project and $1,650,000 for the Montgomery Regional Tech and Innovation initiative. He said those funds, secured with Congressman Figures and local partners, will support infrastructure and workforce development.
The mayor also previewed local initiatives: the city will begin accepting applications April 1 for a paid 10‑week mayor’s internship program (30 students selected) and launched "Pay Montgomery," an online service to let residents pay court obligations without visiting the courthouse. "Modernizing these services is key and it's essential," Reed said.
The mayor highlighted public-safety statistics, saying arrests were up while violent crime and homicides had declined compared with a prior period. He emphasized that further progress requires coordination across local, state and federal partners.
Ending: Reed closed by urging citizens to engage with state lawmakers on structural fiscal issues affecting Montgomery and promised a follow-up financial update to include the first-half ACFR once auditing is complete.
