National & International

Metro & State

| Birmingham -- The Birmingham City Council is expected to look at - and possibly vote on - the city's $428.5 million operating budget that Mayor Larry Langford proposed a few weeks ago. The council wants to approve the budget by July 1st, when the new fiscal year begins.

The budget includes $1 million in appropriations for a study into the feasibility of a streetcar system in downtown and another $1 million in funds to help restore Bethel Baptist Church, an instrumental civil rights meeting place.

Councilors have been critical of the mayor for not providing a formal capital projects budget. William Bell says the mayor is in violation of the Mayor-Council Act for not doing so. Royal says there could be fear of reprisal in the city's legal department if something is said about it.

WBHM's Steve Chiotakis spoke with Councilor Roderick Royal about the budget process, some of the things he approves or rejects and what to expect in the ultimate vote.

~Steve Chiotakis, June 24, 2008