Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Foley citizens now have access to a new, easy-to-use guide to Foley's city finances. The most recent Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) has been made public by the city to show citizens how their taxes are being spent. According to city officials, the report is written without technical jargon and in plain language. They hope it will help people better understand how the city raises revenue and how it spends it each year.

The fiscal year 2025, which ended on September 30, 2025, is covered in the PAFR 2026 edition. Through that date, it is being disseminated online and in certain public offices, updating city financial data. According to Financial Services Director Miranda Bell, the publication aims to make the city's books accessible to regular citizens.

“This is designed to make our financials more understandable,” Bell said. “The general public can look at this report and understand where the money came from and how it was spent.” Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the report draws on more than 200 pages of the city’s annual audit and condenses them into just 14 pages. He said that a shorter format gives residents the key facts without forcing them to study a long technical document.

“What makes this report so good is that it places information on the level where people can really understand, instead of something that’s three inches thick,” Hellmich said. The mayor praised the work of the Finance Department staff, who compile and explain the numbers each year. He said their goal is to build trust by providing residents clear information.

The report shows that Foley spent about 100 million dollars during the 2025 fiscal year. The largest single share went to capital projects, with 33 million dollars invested in road improvements, upgrades to parks and recreation facilities, and land purchases. Capital spending also included money for the construction of the new public library and the public works campus. City leaders said those projects are meant to support growth and improve the quality of life.

Public safety was the second-highest area of city funding. Foley invested 20 million dollars in police, fire, and other safety services in 2025. Other spending covered culture and recreation, highways and streets, economic development, general government, and debt service.

On the revenue side, sales and local taxes were the city’s biggest source of income. They brought in 52.7 percent of Foley’s total revenue for the year. The city also collected money from utility tax equivalents, licenses and permits, and investment income. Officials said the mix of revenue sources helps support services across the community.

The PAFR also highlights several measures of city activity outside of raw dollars. During the year, the Police Department answered 27,847 calls for service. The Foley Public Library logged 122,231 patron visits and circulated 330,047 items. Attendance at sports tourism events reached 208,000, reflecting the city’s growing role as a host for tournaments and competitions.

The report's economic indicators show that many local families are doing better than they were a few years ago. The median family income in Foley rose to $66,336 in 2025, up from $43,614 in 2020. The unemployment rate dropped from 2.9% in 2024 to 2.3% in 2025, according to the city’s figures.

Foley’s financial reporting has also earned national recognition. The city’s PAFR has received the Government Finance Officers Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting for six consecutive years. That award is one of three honors the GFOA has bestowed on the city in recent years.

The city has also earned the GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its annual comprehensive financial report. In addition, Foley received the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. Hellmich said that very few cities in Alabama receive all three awards each year, an honor known as the “Triple Crown.”

“There are 465 cities, and only five receive this. I think we’re one of two in Baldwin County,” Hellmich said. “That’s a high honor. These are very high standards to meet.” City officials said the awards show that Foley’s financial records are accurate, transparent, and easy to read.

Residents can review the new PAFR on the city website in the Finance section. Printed copies are also available at some public offices for those who prefer a physical booklet. The report appears alongside other financial documents, including the city’s budget and audit, to give citizens a full picture of how Foley manages public funds.