The Andalusia City Council on Tuesday approved a budget of $27 million for the fiscal year 2023-24 that begins in October. 1.

“Our department heads, council members and I have been working extremely to put together another sensible strategy for the year ahead,” Mayor Earl Johnson stated.

The budget is an 6.67 percentage increase to operating expenses, according to the mayor in addition to cost-of-living adjustments for city workers and also the funding of jobs that are currently vacant within the police department as well as other departments of the city.

“When you consider the rise in operating costs approximately a third is allocated to a cost of living adjustment, also known as COLA, Performance Pay as well as the related benefits. In the end, our City Council and I agreed to institute the COLA of 5 percent, over a period of two years for all employees. It is crucial that we keep our wage scale to be in line with the market conditions.”

The budget contains:

  • $26.2 million for operating costs
  • $250,000 in the contingency funds
  • $586,903 is allocated to Capital Improvement Account that is used to purchase construction or equipment.

“We are thrilled that the city’s income that are primarily derived from sales taxes, are growing,” Mayor Johnson said. “Our employees and I are working tirelessly to boost economic development in order to ensure that Andalusia residents enjoy the highest standard of living possible and that people also select our city as a place to live.

“Since 2000, sales of retail for Andalusia have increased by 122 percent. City of Andalusia have grown by $141.6 million up to $314million, around 122 percent,” Mayor Johnson stated. “We think we’ll continue to witness growth in the retail industry as more new businesses are set to open in the city. In the upcoming quarter, we’re aware we will see that Lost Pizza, Bealls, and Marshalls are all scheduled to be open.”

The mayor also said that further economic developments announced are anticipated in the next one to three months and.

“We are pleased with the local economy and we appreciate everyone that shop in our stores, and those who invest and run businesses in the area,” he said.

The article Andalusia City Council approves the budget of $27 million was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.