Oxford Approves $75.1 Million Budget, Recognizes a Young Talent and Offers a Fond Farewell at City Council Meeting

Oxford, AL – Oxford held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday September 12, 2023.

• Call to Order
  • Councilwoman Hubbard – Present
  • Councilman Gardner – Present
  • Councilman Waits – Present
  • Councilman Henderson – Present
  • Councilman Spurlin – Present

• Welcome/Invocation – Keith McCullough, Oxford First Baptist Church
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Approval of Minutes of September 12, 2023
• Old Business – None
• New Business
  • Proclamation and Recognition
    • The City extended its gratitude to Captain Shawn Gibson for his illustrious 29-year career with the Oxford Police Department. They conveyed their best wishes for his forthcoming retirement and the happiness that awaits in the next chapter of his life.

• • • Carter Johnson – The city took pride in honoring Carter Johnson, a member of the 18U National Baseball team, who had the distinct honor of representing the United States in the Baseball World Cup held in Taiwan.

• • • • Ordinance No. 2023- 25 – Ordinance declaring real property located on Ponderosa Trail surplus and authorizing its sale. – Unanimously Approved
      • Resolution No. 2023- 112 – Resolution awarding the bid for concrete purchases for FY 2024 to Webb Concrete and Building Materials. – Unanimously Approved
      • Consent Agenda: – Unanimously Approved
        • Resolution No. 2023- 113 – Resolution awarding the bid for concrete pipe purchases for FY 2024 to Foley Products.
        • Resolution No. 2023- 114 – Resolution awarding the bid for aggregate purchases for FY 2024 to MidSouth Paving.
        • Resolution No. 2023 – 115 – Resolution approving the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget.
          • The City Council approved a balanced budget of $75.1 million for city operations, reflecting a $6.5 million increase compared to the previous year. Among the budget highlights, the police department and public works department emerged as the top expenditures, with allocations of $11.7 million and $10.2 million, respectively. Notably, Oxford City Schools will receive a $300,000 boost in city appropriation compared to the previous year, bringing the total to $8.751 million. One significant change in this year’s budget is the introduction of a new pay scale aimed at recognizing employee tenure. Assistant Fire Chief Ben Stewart, a contributor to the development of this pay scale, indicated that the average raise under the new system would amount to approximately 2.5 percent.
      • Council Comments/Reports
      • Mayor’s Comments
      • Set Public Hearings for October 10, 2023, to consider the following request which were considered by the Oxford Planning Commission at their September 5, 2023 meeting:
        • Zoning request from Victor Perez Martinez and Brenda Guerro-Cardoso to zone property located at 304 Buckhorn road as Residential District (R-1)
        • Zoning request from Karen Jones Moradian to rezone property located at 1700 Clark Avenue from Residential District (R-1) to Manufactured Home District (MH)
        • Set a Public Hearing for October 10, 2023 to consider a condemnation at 225 E. Oak Street
      • Visitors
      • Motion to adjourn (next regular Council Meeting, October 10, 2023)