By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
PINSON – The first reading for the 2025-2026 budget was held by the Pinson City Council during a meeting on Thursday.
A copy of the working budget was provided that showed the revenue collection and the expenses for the fiscal year. The total revenue numbers were $4,819,285 with total expenses of $4,322,015.
The copy included numbers from the 2024/2025 budget in which the total revenue was $4,662,533 and the total expenses were $4,132,599.
Despite problems caused by using a new accounting software in a previous budget, Mayor Robbie Roberts said that it has allowed those working on the new budget to more easily track expenditures and revenue in various departments.
An update, he mentioned, was that in a previous budget discussion it was found that employer taxes were not reflected in past budgets and so the new proposal now includes those numbers.
Councilor Hoyt Sanders said that he wanted to express to the public that the budget features a large number of checking accounts because some of the revenue is “very specific” especially for the gasoline tax, which he said has to be used.
“I just want the public to be aware that those funds are gasoline funds,” he said. “They do have very particular purposes. Most recently we were talking about the 10 cent tax, which is the Rebuild Alabama Act that we’re using on industrial road projects.”
Roberts also discussed a proposal from recently hired Parks and Recreation Director Taurus Pyles on establishing a senior citizen program.
“As our population ages, it becomes increasingly essential to provide dedicated resources and support to ensure our senior residents to maintain active, healthy, and fulfilling lives,” she shared in a letter to the council.
Pyles emphasized its benefits that include social activities, health activities and education that would combat loneliness, improve health mentally and physically, and give older adults a sense of community.
In her proposal the program would include social outings, music, exercise, guided nature walks, crafts and games among others. It would be available to residents of ages 55 and older, with a fee of $5 per month, though additional fees may be applied for special activities such as field trips.
Roberts said that Pyles has proposals for grant funding that can make the program possible, pointing out that the city had a senior citizen program before the COVID pandemic and expressed interest in reviving it.
City Operations Director Eric Winfrey announced that the new city website, pinsonal.gov, is now running and features a new layout along with functions such as reporting concerns and sports registration.
During public comments Center Point Fire Department Battalion Chief Chris Horn reported 853 calls for the month of June but noted that in July the department responded to 35 calls on the Fourth of July. 26 were medical calls while nine were related to fire.
He then mentioned the passing and funeral of retired Captain Hermann “Buster” Patterson, who he said was his mentor. He also briefly talked about the Dollar General store fire that occurred recently in which multiple fire districts responded to.
Palmerdale Fire District Assistant Chief Richard Archer then reported 153 calls for June and expressed gratitude for the response of firefighters during the Dollar General store fire.
Afterwards, residents Valerie Jackson and Tracie Thompson spoke to complain about Waste Management’s handling of trash pickup and recycling. Jackson voiced frustration with a price increase for services. Thompson insisted that Waste Management workers are not recycling as they are supposed to.
A discussion followed in which Roberts said that the prices are set by a contract that the city has with Waste Management but it is temporary and will run out unless it’s renewed. He mentioned the possibility of the city creating its own trash collection department.
In other business the council:
- Ordered an abatement for a property on Vise Road due to weeds and grass being a nuisance.
Pinson City Council meets on the first and third Thursdays of every month at City Hall on 4410 Main Street. Live-streamed meetings can be seen on the city’s Facebook page.
Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.
