By james art In his recent State of the City address, Mayor Paul Finley declared that Madison is strong and continuing to grow stronger, citing sound finances, top-rated schools and a shared community vision.
“I think every mayor in every city in the nation hopes that they can truly say what I have the honor to be able to say as mayor, which is that the state of Madison, Alabama is strong and continues to get stronger. strong,” Finley said.
Finley gave the State of the City address on Oct. 24 during the third annual Celebrate Madison event at Trash Pandas Stadium. The family-friendly event, hosted by the Madison Chamber of Commerce, featured free food vouchers for the first 300 attendees, hall activities and fireworks.
During his speech, Finley outlined the city’s sound financial foundation, which includes a high bond rating, and emphasized the City Council’s support for maintaining an emergency reserve savings account. Those efforts, Finley said, allow Madison to keep pace with growth while continuing to invest in public safety, infrastructure and community.
Finley noted that Madison City Schools are a place of great pride for the city, recognized for excellence statewide and nationally. Safety also remains a top priority for Madison with resources dedicated to police, fire and cyber security.
In reading the city’s mission statement, Finley said, “The City of Madison is in business to provide excellent service through the responsible use of public resources, enhancing the quality of life for our community.”
This mission, created in 2016 with input from the City Council and department heads, guides Madison’s efforts to maximize the impact of taxpayer dollars.
“Simply put,” Finley said, “we take the revenue you give us — taxes — and try to stretch it as far as we can to have the most positive impact for you and the community.”
One of those areas where the city invests revenue for the good of the community is improving traffic through and around the city. Finley said the long-awaited Madison interchange at Town Madison is scheduled to open in early 2024, with the goal of improving traffic flow and easing congestion near I-565. Additional projects, including the six-lane extension of I-565 from Wall Triana to County Line Road and a collaborative effort to improve Slaughter Road, also promise to make travel easier for Madison’s growing population.
Finley emphasized Madison’s sense of community and shared purpose.
“We’re all moving in the same direction,” Finley said, “and the many entities that help operate and manage Madison all know what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Finley finished by talking about Madison’s partnership with Trash Pandas, calling it a calculated risk that is now paying off. According to Finley, in 2023 the stadium generated about $3.6 million annually through ticket sales and lodging tax, covering a $3.1 million bond payment and providing more than 100 non-baseball events in Madison each year.