City Budget & Taxes

Every decision comes with a cost. This section reveals how candidates prioritize spending, view tax policies, and approach financial planning for Fairhope’s future.

How would you approach setting priorities in the city’s budget? 

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Andrea Faust Booth

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Jack Burrell

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Jimmy Conyers

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    George Ferniany

  • "Infrastructure, public safety, and quality of life items would be the main priorities. All else would come after it. I believe in balanced budgets that eliminate debt and keep our reserves and rainy day fund full."

    Joshua N. Gammon

    Place 2

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Tracy Gatewood

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Howell Gibbons

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    David Luc

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Corey Martin

  • "Setting the city’s budget is one of the most important responsibilities we have as a Council. I believe the process should be grounded in fiscal responsibility, transparency, and a clear focus on the core needs of our community. My approach begins with listening—understanding the priorities of our residents while considering essential services like public safety and preserving our quality of life. From there, I believe in prioritizing spending that protects critical services, supports long-term planning, and reflects the values of the people we serve. We must continue investing in infrastructure—roads, drainage, utilities—while being cautious about debt, planning conservatively, and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used wisely and effectively. Each year, we hold budget meetings with every city department to better understand their needs and challenges. The Council also works closely with the Mayor to assess priorities, align with citywide goals, and make sure each department has the resources it needs to serve the public well. Budgeting is about balancing today’s needs with tomorrow’s responsibilities—and that takes steady leadership, thoughtful planning, and ongoing communication with the people we represent."

    Jay Robinson

    Place 4

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Troy Vickers

Would you support a cap on property tax increases for long-term residents? Why or why not? 

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Andrea Faust Booth

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Jack Burrell

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Jimmy Conyers

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    George Ferniany

  • "I'm not in favor of raising taxes on city residents."

    Joshua N. Gammon

    Place 2

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Tracy Gatewood

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Howell Gibbons

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    David Luc

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Corey Martin

  • "I absolutely understand the concern—especially for longtime residents on fixed incomes who want to stay in their homes. Fairhope’s growth has brought rising property values, and with that comes the risk of higher taxes putting pressure on the very people who helped build this community. While the City of Fairhope does not set property tax rates directly (those are largely set at the county and state level), I do believe we should explore every option to keep Fairhope affordable for long-term residents. That could include supporting caps or exemptions at the legislative level, or working with our county officials to find fair solutions that protect homeowners without compromising essential services. Any approach should be thoughtful, data-driven, and reflect the values of our community: fairness, fiscal responsibility, and protecting the people who have made Fairhope what it is today."

    Jay Robinson

    Place 4

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Troy Vickers

Are you in favor of issuing municipal bonds for capital projects? Under what conditions?

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Andrea Faust Booth

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Jack Burrell

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Jimmy Conyers

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    George Ferniany

  • "Absolutely. We need to allow the city to raise significant capital to address the myriad improvements needed to our infrastructure, parks, and recreational facilities. an incremental "pay-as-you-go" approach means waiting 5-10 years for needed repairs and increases in capacity to be fully completed. We can leverage the city's finances responsibly and have a definite payback schedule to ensure we do not have long-term debt obligations. Some things are worth spending money on today so our quality of life doesn't decrease tomorrow."

    Joshua N. Gammon

    Place 2

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Tracy Gatewood

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Howell Gibbons

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    David Luc

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Corey Martin

  • "During my time on council, we have managed to perform nearly $60 million dollars of infrastructure upgrades, while also eliminating the general fund debt and increasing our rainy day fund from $7 million to $10 million. We have tried to be good stewards of the taxpayer's dollar and lto be as fiscally conservative as possible with our budget. While we have been able to do so many things without the issuance of municipal bonds, if the need arose in the future, I would be willing to consider the possibility."

    Jay Robinson

    Place 4

  • Awaiting response from candidate.

    Troy Vickers