By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

HOOVER—The Hoover City Council approved the city’s fiscal year 2016 budget, including $147.8 million in expenditures, during a Nov. 16 City Council meeting.

The budget, originally presented on Sept. 23, accounts for $147.8 million in total expenditures and projects $126.7 million in total revenues, a roughly $5 million increase in revenues from last year.

The budget will end at the conclusion of fiscal year 2016 on Sept. 30, 2016, and is projected to leave a remaining $36.3 million total fund balance.

“I would like to thank everyone who participated (in the budget process),” Hoover Councilman Gene Smith said.

The City Council approved the budget by a six to one vote, with Hoover Councilman John Greene voting against the budget.

“Because this budget does not approve additional funding for our schools, I must vote no,” Greene said.

The 2016 budget includes $2 million for the Hoover City School system, the same amount of funding the city gave the school system last year.

The budget proposed on Sept. 23 included a $3 million installment for the purchase of Old Berry High School. Since the city decided not to purchase the property on Columbiana Road, Mayor Gary Ivey suggested the funds be added to the city’s sports facilities budget in a Nov. 12 letter to Hoover Executive Director Allen Pate and Finance Director Robert Yeager. The additional $3 million brings the city-wide sports facilities budget to $5 million.