Foley council adopts new 2026 fee schedule, approves tax levy and project payouts

The Foley City Council on Dec. 2 adopted Ordinance 496 to update the city fee schedule effective Jan. 1, 2026, and later approved Resolution 2025-36 setting the final 2026 tax levy after a short public hearing with no speakers.

During the meeting the council approved two construction pay applications. City Engineer Jared Griffith said work certified to date on the north-side improvements (payment number six) was $4,580,594.34, about 94.5% of the total project cost. The council voted to approve pay application number six by voice vote. Griffith also reported the 2025 lead service project is suspended for the winter and was certified to date (transcript figure 2,243,982, cited in discussion as roughly 82–88% complete); council approved payout number five and a reduction of retainage from 5% to 1% to address remaining punch-list items.

The council opened a truth-in-taxation public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget (a reported 8.98% increase) and heard no public comment before adopting the final levy. A council member said the council had “done our due diligence” and noted surrounding communities face similar pressures; the motion to adopt Resolution 2025-36 passed by voice vote.

All motions recorded in the transcript were approved by voice vote: agenda approval, consent agenda (which included acceptance of a part-time officer resignation), Ordinance 496 (fee schedule), pay applications for the north-side project and lead service project, and adoption of the final tax levy. The meeting adjourned after those actions were completed.

What comes next: Ordinance 496 is effective Jan. 1, 2026, per the text the council moved to adopt; project teams will return in spring to complete remaining punch-list work and sign installation on the north-side project, and staff will manage winter suspension details for the lead service-line project.