Trussville DOES NOT have a revenue problem — it has a SPENDING problem. In 2024, the Mayor and City Council adopted a resolution that allowed a REFERENDUM TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES on every business and every home, including those on SOCIAL SECURITY, FIXED INCOMES, and those on DISABILITY (not 100%). With annual revaluations factored in, some homes and most businesses would have experienced annual increases into the THOUSANDS.

J.T. SMALLWOOD OPPOSES ALL TAX INCREASES and has worked tirelessly on behalf of Trussville businesses and homeowners to STOP ALL NEW TAXES. Nearly every city in Jefferson County saw a downturn in sales tax proceeds, but only ONE — Trussville — was cited by Standard & Poor’s.

S&P Global Ratings lowered Trussville’s general obligation warrant rating to ‘AA’ with a NEGATIVE OUTLOOK due to budget deficits and financial mismanagement. In addition to drafting and passing a massively inflated budget, city leadership took out a $6 MILLION DOLLAR LOAN, further worsening our financial standing and DEPLETING OUR RESERVES.

Trussville must learn to live within its means. J.T. WILL RESTORE OUR RESERVE FUNDS, CUT UNNECESSARY SPENDING, AND GET TRUSSVILLE BACK ON SOUND FINANCIAL FOOTING.

GARBAGE AND TRASH PICKUP FEES ARE SET TO TAKE EFFECT AFTER THE ELECTION — thanks to the Trussville Mayor and City Council, who voted to AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO NEGOTIATE for garbage services on behalf of the citizens. Sources say this could cost each household UP TO $40 PER MONTH.

This is unacceptable. Every resident is ALREADY PAYING for these basic and essential services — POLICE, FIRE, ROADS, GARBAGE PICKUP, AND PARKS — through existing AD VALOREM and SALES TAXES.

Residents should NEVER be charged twice for basic government services. Where did those funds go? It’s time our leadership acts as WISE STEWARDS of tax dollars and STANDS UP TO SPECIAL INTERESTS AND WASTEFUL SPENDING.

J.T. SMALLWOOD WILL CUT UNNECESSARY EXPENSES AND RESTORE FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY — WITHOUT RAISING YOUR COST OF LIVING.

EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVES CLEAN AIR.
The EASTERN AREA LANDFILL — the City of Birmingham’s dumping ground — sits alarmingly close to the MAGNOLIA SECTOR, GLENN CROSS, BROOKE’S CROSSINGS and other neighborhoods. Its proximity to MAGNOLIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL and hundreds of homes puts our residents — especially our CHILDREN — at risk.

These types of landfills emit HARMFUL POLLUTANTS, IRRITANTS, AND ODORS that damage PROPERTY VALUES, interfere with QUALITY OF LIFE, and threaten our HEALTH. The MOODY LANDFILL FIRE should serve as a wake-up call. Let’s not wait for another disaster.

Trussville has been SILENT for too long. As Mayor, J.T. SMALLWOOD WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS — through NEGOTIATION, MEDIATION, OR LITIGATION — to SHUT THIS DUMP DOWN ONCE AND FOR ALL. AT NO EXPENSE TO OUR CITIZENS.

We need to FOCUS ON MAINTAINING WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE — starting with OUR ROADS.

PAVING AND ROAD MAINTENANCE must include ALL subdivisions — GATED OR NON-GATED. Every taxpaying citizen is entitled to safe, well-maintained streets. Before we build NEW roads, let’s TAKE CARE OF EXISTING ONES.

RAILWAY CROSSINGS have blocked our neighborhoods and delayed EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIMES. J.T. will work with the entire JEFFERSON COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION to get ONE WORD in the state code changed, giving Trussville the legal leverage it needs to protect its citizens and ensure safe, reliable infrastructure access.