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Gulf Shores council approves sweeping FY2026 budget amendment including capital reallocations and school construction increase
Summary
Council adopted a comprehensive FY2026 budget amendment that reallocates funds across general, capital and warrant proceeds funds — increasing allocations for police, fireboat funding, and boosting the planned high school construction from $8.8 million to $25.8 million; vote was unanimous.
The Gulf Shores City Council on June 8 unanimously approved Resolution No. 7147-26, a broad amendment to the city's fiscal year 2026 operating and capital budgets that shifts money among multiple funds and authorizes higher spending on several major projects.
The amendment increases police-related salary and benefit lines to cover a newly detailed "Canine settlement" and authorizes a new airport officer position (including vehicle and equipment), expands capital funds for a proposed new high school project (raising the line from $8,800,000 to $25,800,000), and adds a fire-boat expenditure estimated at $790,400 (with a $592,400 federal share and a 25% city match of $197,600). It also reprograms multiple warrant proceeds and capital transfers to carry forward work not completed in 2025, including Waterway East/West phases and ALDOT sidewalk and capacity projects.
Councilman Philip Harris presented the amendment and explained line-item changes across the General Fund, Special Revenues Fund, Capital Improvements Fund, and various warrant-proceeds funds. The resolution lists increases in Police Patrol salaries, vehicle and equipment purchases, and several grant reimbursements and transfers; Councilman Stephen E. Jones moved the resolution and it passed on a roll-call vote of six "aye" votes.
The measure includes specific budget entries in accounting codes, such as an added $326,757 in Police Patrol salaries identified in the amendment as related to a canine settlement, and capital transfers to cover delayed projects from 2025 now scheduled for completion in 2026. The resolution text also identifies sources of reimbursement (federal funds, RESTORE Act, GOMESA, and other grants) and a mix of taxable and nontaxable warrant proceeds to be used as bridge financing where necessary.
City staff said the amendment is necessary to align 2026 spending authority with realized costs and multi-year capital schedules. The council adopted the resolution unanimously; the resolution takes effect upon adoption.
