For the first time in more than 10 years, the Montgomery Police Department and other city employees will get raises.
In order to cover the costs of raises, the city increased business license fees for the first time in 16 years to generate $6.5 million into the fiscal year 2025 budget.
The increase brought concerns for some City Council members.
A Montgomery homebuilder spoke before the council, saying that licensure fees for those in his sector would more than quadruple from $1,200 to $5,000.
District 7 Councilman Andrew Szymanski said an increase too large could drive away homebuilders who pay the same rates regardless of how much money they make.
"If you're a homebuilder that does only $1 million versus someone that does $60 million, you're still paying that same rate," Szymanski said.
Council President Cornelius "CC" Calhoun argued the revenue from business licenses are crucial to providing services for the city.
"We have to provide the services to our citizens, so someone has to pay," Calhoun said. "Everybody lives here. People live outside of Montgomery, but the jobs are here."
Suggestions were made on amending the budget or carrying over the ordinance in question, but Montgomery Chief Financial Officer Betty Beville says those suggestions would not be feasible.
"If this ordinance is not passed, you can't adopt the budget because we have a $6.5 million increase in this budget," Beville said.
The council passed the ordinance, but also agreed to later amend it to lower the license fees for homebuilders.