SUMMERDALE - The Summerdale Town Council voted on Monday, Oct. 11 to approve amendments to the budget for fiscal year 2020-21 as well as to adopt the budget for fiscal year 2021-22.

“Budgets are always something that you work through during the year, because there are things that come up that you would never have dreamed of whenever you’re trying to formulate the budget,” said Mayor David Wilson. “I have to commend the staff on the hard work that they’ve done. This is another one of our highest budgets that we’ve ever had.”

The budget for FY21-22 is $5,514,527.46. The newly approved budget includes salary increases for all town employees. Budgeted items include multiple major town projects, such as improvements to the Summerdale Senior Center, waterline and water meter improvements, a new commercial playground at the Splash Park, roadway improvements and more.

“This is a good budget for this little town,” said Wilson. “I would like to say thanks to everybody for doing what they’re supposed to do, it keeps our revenue in place. When I started as mayor our budget was around $300,000, it wasn’t even one million, so we’ve come a long way as far as budgets go. I think that we’re a blessed town, and try to make sure that everybody is treated fairly.”

In other business from the Oct. 11 council:

• The Summerdale Town Council voted to donate $5,000 to the Miracle League. The town’s donation will be matched by the city of Orange Beach, which recently approved a donation of $20,000 to the Miracle League, as well as up to a $100,000 match on donations made by other Baldwin County municipalities. The Miracle League complex is located in the town of Summerdale, which donated the land for the project.
• The council awarded a bid to R & S Paving for roadway improvements at the Summerdale Cemetery. The project includes a new asphalt street going from County Road 73 to County Road 32, and adding a new base and new gravel to the routes through the cemetery. The total project costs $49,317.50.
• Council approved the purchase of two new basketball goals to be placed at the courts by Babe Ruth Park. The total cost of the two goals is $5,004. The goals will be installed by the town’s street department. Riviera Utilities will install new lighting at the courts. The two goals currently at the court will remain, for a total of four basketball goals.
• Council approved the utilization of the Rescue Act Funds received by the town to build a new railroad themed playground at the Splash Park and for an upgrade of approximately 2,700 square feet of waterlines along County Road 71. The new playground will cost approximately $156,000 total, with the town paying $104,000 and the remaining $52,000 paid for through a grant.