Mayor Kincaid presented his proposed budget for the city of Birmingham during yesterday’s city council meeting. The $329 million budget would be the largest in the city’s history.

The budget is currently available in PDF format from the city’s website. The following links will take you to the general sections of the presentation:

• Mayor’s Budget Message
• Mayor’s Proposed Operating Budget Fiscal Year 2008
• Mayor’s Proposed Capital Budget & Capital Improvement Program

Kincaid also told the council that hard copies of the proposed budget will be available at all Birmingham Public Library locations.

The presentation caused yesterday’s city council meeting to be heavily attended, in part due to the expected comments about police and fire employees receiving a pay raise. The annoucement of the 4% pay raise for all city employees with the promise to increase the amount that the city pays for medical coverage drew a quiet but interested look from the gallery, including police and fire leadership as they took down notes in the back of the room.

According to today’s Birmingham News’ article , it may be too little to late in the eyes of many associated with it.

Upon accepting delivery of the budget proposal, Council President Carole Smitherman asked that if possible public meetings be held based on council districts to allow the public an opportunity to voice their concerns about the budget. She recommended the following pairings:

Districts 2&4
Districts 3&5
Districts 6&7
Districts 8&9

Smitherman stated that District 1 had already had a meeting recently during whic they were able to express their concerns. They hope to schedule the meetings as soon as possible.