City Manager’s Recommended Budget – FY 2025-2026
Presented May 12, 2025
The City of Bessemer City is pleased to present the City Manager’s Recommended Budget for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. This budget reflects the City’s commitment to responsible financial management while investing in the people, infrastructure, and services that make our community thrive.
This year’s proposed budget ($16.5 million) supports general operations, capital improvements, and key staffing needs—while aligning with state guidelines (Local Government Commission) to strengthen the city’s financial health.
City Council will hold Budget Session III on Tuesday, May 27th. Council will consider adopting the budget on Monday, June 9, 2025.
View proposed budget documents at www.bessemercity.com/budget
Key Budget Priorities:
- Maintaining the current property tax rate at $0.55 per $100 valuation.
- No use of fund balance to balance the budget—preserving savings and enhancing cash flow (Financial Performance Indicator of Concern- FPIC)
- Strategic investments in public safety, parks, infrastructure, and community development.
- Staff investment, including a 2% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for all employees.
️ General Fund Highlights:
- Continued funding for vital services like police, fire, sanitation, and recreation.
- New funding for:
- A dog park (matching funds) and park/facility improvements (Stinger Park, Centennial Park, pool upgrades)
- Three (3) full-time firefighters
- Public art and sidewalk repairs
- Downtown economic development and grants
Utility Funds:
- Water/Sewer Rate Increases: 3.5% (water) and 5% (sewer) to cover rising operating and processing costs.
- Stormwater Fees: No change for residential; adjusted non-residential rates per impervious surface study.
- Natural Gas Fund: Conservative revenue estimates with no base fee increases.
Fee Schedule Updates:
- Adjustments to water/sewer base and usage rates
- Revisions to planning, zoning, and development fees to better reflect service costs
- Increases to some administrative and permitting fees (e.g., zoning letters, annexation petitions)
Full fee schedule available at: www.bessemercity.com/budget
Investing for the Future:
This budget prepares Bessemer City for continued growth by:
- Addressing infrastructure and regulatory demands
- Supporting community branding, stormwater planning, and economic studies
- Ensuring the city meets state financial benchmarks (Unit Assistance List- UAL, Financial Perofrmance Indicators of Concern- FPIC)
For full budget details, please visit: www.bessemercity.com/budget
Questions? Contact City Manager Josh Ross at jross@bessemercity.com or (704) 629-5542.