City's state, future great, mayor says

Spencer's so happy she plans to run again in 2008

Thursday, November 02, 2006

By JOHN PECK

Times Staff Writer, john.peck@htimes.com

Mayor Loretta Spencer gave an upbeat assessment of Huntsville in her annual state-of-the-city address Wednesday and announced she will seek a fourth term as mayor in 2008.

Huntsville is reaching its potential, "but you haven't seen anything yet," Spencer, 69, told an announced crowd of 850 at the Von Braun Center. "I want to continue in this job, and I'm proud to say I want to be your mayor in 2008, too."

Her speech was preceded by a six-minute video recapping key events in 2005-2006. Highlights touched on major industrial announcements, including the Verizon Wireless state headquarters and service center (a $44 million investment and 1,300 jobs); expansions at Lockheed-Martin, Raytheon, Colsa and several other companies; and the recent opening of the $40 million, 295-room Embassy Suites Convention Hotel downtown.

Spencer touted the boom in city building permits ($344 million worth of retail, commercial and residential projects), a jump in sales tax revenue (up 8.7 percent over the previous year to $113.6 million) and nearly 8,000 home sites under construction or in the planning stages.

The mayor's state-of-the-city speech was arranged by the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce with Northrop Grumman as the key sponsor.

Spencer praised the chamber, Redstone Arsenal officials, the state's congressional delegation, surrounding chambers and city and county governments and others for working together to protect Redstone Arsenal from Pentagon-ordered base closings and realignments. Redstone was not only spared in the 2005 BRAC decisions, but will be the recipient of 4,700 defense jobs and perhaps an equal number of support contractors.

"We couldn't have done it if we didn't work as a team, and it's a benefit to all of the area," she said.

Spencer said education will remain her top priority. She said the Tax Increment Financing districts approved in the last several years by the City Council and Madison County Commission have provided millions of dollars for new schools and school renovations.

A TIF allows the city to borrow money and use gains in property tax revenue to pay off the cost of construction projects. Although a TIF does not raise property taxes, it is designed to increase property values and therefore boost tax revenue.

The latest TIF, approved in September, will help build a new Lee High School, renovate Butler High School, commit $10 million for improvements to south Huntsville schools, and pay for several city projects, including a downtown parking garage and downtown headquarters on Clinton Avenue for the police and fire departments.

Spencer used the TIFs' success to plug the proposed half-cent countywide sales tax increase. The County Commission recently tabled the sales tax proposal until 2009 after no more than two of the six district commissioners could be persuaded to support it. Although she did not endorse the sales tax directly, she said the TIFs resulted in school improvements that have not gone unnoticed.

"I continually hear from people who say the first thing they want to see is what the quality of education is in your town." She said she realizes that levying a half-cent sales tax is a tough decision for county commissioners, but so was each of the five TIFs.

In other remarks, Spencer:

Plugged the recent opening of a city sand volleyball complex, a new city tennis center and more soccer fields. Spencer said the facilities are drawing tournaments that bring in lots of sales and lodging tax revenue.

Said the city is fast earning a reputation as being a "green city" with its environmentally friendly companies, litter cleanup efforts and anti-litter hotline, and continued expansion of greenways and bikeways. She said the switch to once-a-week garbage collection has encouraged more curbside recycling, and being an environmentally conscious city is attractive to young professionals.

Promised to increase pressure on state and federal officials to speed construction on Memorial Parkway overpasses and other major road projects.



City's state, future great, mayor says Spencer's so happy she plans to run again in 2008 Thursday, November 02, 2006 By JOHN PECK Times Staff Writer, john.peck@htimes.com Mayor Loretta Spencer gave an upbeat assessment of Huntsville in her annual state-of-the-city address Wednesday and announced she will seek a fourth term as mayor in 2008. Huntsville is reaching its potential, "but you haven't seen anything yet," Spencer, 69, told an announced crowd of 850 at the Von Braun Center. "I want to continue in this job, and I'm proud to say I want to be your mayor in 2008, too." Her speech was preceded by a six-minute video recapping key events in 2005-2006. Highlights touched on major industrial announcements, including the Verizon Wireless state headquarters and service center (a $44 million investment and 1,300 jobs); expansions at Lockheed-Martin, Raytheon, Colsa and several other companies; and the recent opening of the $40 million, 295-room Embassy Suites Convention Hotel downtown. Spencer touted the boom in city building permits ($344 million worth of retail, commercial and residential projects), a jump in sales tax revenue (up 8.7 percent over the previous year to $113.6 million) and nearly 8,000 home sites under construction or in the planning stages. The mayor's state-of-the-city speech was arranged by the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce with Northrop Grumman as the key sponsor. Spencer praised the chamber, Redstone Arsenal officials, the state's congressional delegation, surrounding chambers and city and county governments and others for working together to protect Redstone Arsenal from Pentagon-ordered base closings and realignments. Redstone was not only spared in the 2005 BRAC decisions, but will be the recipient of 4,700 defense jobs and perhaps an equal number of support contractors. "We couldn't have done it if we didn't work as a team, and it's a benefit to all of the area," she said. Spencer said education will remain her top priority. She said the Tax Increment Financing districts approved in the last several years by the City Council and Madison County Commission have provided millions of dollars for new schools and school renovations. A TIF allows the city to borrow money and use gains in property tax revenue to pay off the cost of construction projects. Although a TIF does not raise property taxes, it is designed to increase property values and therefore boost tax revenue. The latest TIF, approved in September, will help build a new Lee High School, renovate Butler High School, commit $10 million for improvements to south Huntsville schools, and pay for several city projects, including a downtown parking garage and downtown headquarters on Clinton Avenue for the police and fire departments. Spencer used the TIFs' success to plug the proposed half-cent countywide sales tax increase. The County Commission recently tabled the sales tax proposal until 2009 after no more than two of the six district commissioners could be persuaded to support it. Although she did not endorse the sales tax directly, she said the TIFs resulted in school improvements that have not gone unnoticed. "I continually hear from people who say the first thing they want to see is what the quality of education is in your town." She said she realizes that levying a half-cent sales tax is a tough decision for county commissioners, but so was each of the five TIFs. In other remarks, Spencer: Plugged the recent opening of a city sand volleyball complex, a new city tennis center and more soccer fields. Spencer said the facilities are drawing tournaments that bring in lots of sales and lodging tax revenue. Said the city is fast earning a reputation as being a "green city" with its environmentally friendly companies, litter cleanup efforts and anti-litter hotline, and continued expansion of greenways and bikeways. She said the switch to once-a-week garbage collection has encouraged more curbside recycling, and being an environmentally conscious city is attractive to young professionals. Promised to increase pressure on state and federal officials to speed construction on Memorial Parkway overpasses and other major road projects. © 2006 The Huntsville Times © 2006 al.com All Rights Reserved.