Safety first.

Things like infrastructure and employee pay were among the topics, but public safety was the theme during the “State of the County’’ luncheon Thursday at the Von Braun Center.

Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon’s presentation in a full Saturn Ballroom at the VBC had the budget saved until the end to “emphasize the amount of money spent on public safety.’’

“You know as well as I do,’’ he said, “when you look across our country today, and you look at things that are going on, how important it is for us to have public safety in our community for our growth and our citizens having a good quality of life.’’

The county dedicates 60 percent of its overall general fund budget to public safety, McCutcheon continued, “to provide a safe community to live in, we must invest in public safety. We take very seriously the safety of our residents.’’

A video was played focusing on the expenses and money earmarked for the criminal justice system and public safety featuring Madison County District Attorney Rob Broussard, judges Donna Pate and Karen Hall, Sheriff Kevin Turner and Chief of Corrections/Jail Administrator Chad Brooks.

DA’s office

Though each district attorney’s office and judicial circuit is funded by the state government, it’s not enough. In a growing county like Madison County, a monetary commitment from the county commission in support of the judicial process ensures public safety.

“Of our total budget, the state of Alabama covers, by state appropriation, one quarter of my budget, which immediately makes you think there’s no way you can keep the doors open,’’ Broussard said in the video. “But, because of the county commission and Chairman McCutcheon, another full one-half of my needed budget is provided by the county and that’s not mandated by any law.

“Everyone better have their eyes open. We all read the headlines about the growth of the county and the wonderful things that are happening, but that doesn’t come for free. I’m very happy with the leadership we have in Madison County right now.’’

In 2024, the district attorney’s office handled 8,413 cases. Through August, the office has worked 6,150 cases. Those numbers mean staff and resources are in demand.

“Your tax dollars supplement the DA’s office,’’ Broussard added. “The significance of the relationship between the local county government and the DA’s office is beyond description.’’

County jail

The Madison County Jail, which is located on Wheeler Avenue in Huntsville, functions at maximum capacity as the lone lockup for a large and growing county.

“The city agreed to build the jail facility, the county commission agreed to fund the jail facility and the sheriff’s office would operate the jail facility,’’ Brooks said. “The jail is a fully metro facility.’’

The cost of running the jail system – staffing, inmate health care, security equipment, facility maintenance – cost the county $26 million annually. That price tag will increase along with the county’s population, but the commission is prepared to continue focusing on public safety.

“That’s what brings the industry in,’’ Brooks said. “They’re coming here because of public safety first. It’s a great place to raise your children.’’

Data suggests even more people will move into Madison County, which means more criminal activity.

“We know the day’s coming when we’re gonna have to build more (jail) space,’’ McCutcheon said. “Is that day coming soon? Well, it would be nice if we could say, you know, it would be five or six years from now. But with the growth that we’re experiencing and the numbers that we’re seeing, it could be within the next couple of years.’’

Courthouse

Madison County has 13 active judges and two retired judges that make up the 23rd Judicial Court. They handled 41,413 cases in 2024. Through August, they’ve handled 29,193.

“We have excellent cooperation from the county commission as far as providing space for our jurors, for our courts,’’ Pate said. “Anything we need, they’re very cooperative in helping us.’’

Added Hall, “The relationship that we have here in Madison County, as Chairman McCutcheon can attest, is by far the most progressive, innovative in the state and it’s something we should all be proud of.’’

Over the past two years, the county has been remodeling and retrofitting courtrooms at a cost of a half-million dollars. Next year, renovating five additional courtrooms will cost $105,000.

With downtown traffic at an all-time high and growing with the presence of restaurants, residents living in multi-family apartments and an additional 200 potential jurors when court is in session, parking will soon be more of a priority.

An architect to begin sketching plans for a new courthouse campus is expected to be identified by the end of the year.

“Then we can start making decisions,’’ McCutcheon said. “Do we go with two buildings? Do we build back with one building on the courthouse square? And if we go the two-building route, do we build a separate courthouse facility and then on the square, have an administrative type courthouse?’

“All of these are questions that haven’t been answered yet but things that we have got to look at.’’

McCutcheon figures there are two main challenges downtown.

“One is the accessibility to the public downtown because, all of you here know, our downtown area is growing and has changed,’’ he said. “The other thing is the cost. Several years ago when we were looking at the possibility of building a courthouse, we were looking at about a $60 or $70 million price tag. Today, based on our feasibility study and the information we have, we’re up to about a $150 million price tag.’’

When an architect is identified plans for the courthouse will move forward regardless of the obstacles.

“We accept the challenges and we are committed to public safety for our residents,’’ McCutcheon said.

Other topics (quotes by McCutcheon)

* 10-year Transportation Plan: Road projects at a total cost of $120 million: $27 million (11 projects completed), $11 million (under construction), $2 million (ready for construction), $80 million (in design and acquisition phase).

“We have recently updated the plan and added seven more new projects to that list. The commission worked to establish a capital project fund to build up revenues for this plan.’’

* Service center: The Madison County Service Center is located at 1918 N. Memorial Parkway and houses voter registration, the license department, sales tax, and the offices of the probate judge, tax assessor, and tax collector. The center serves 28,000 people per month and has a wait time of 20 minutes or less 59 percent of the time.

“With the growth that we’re having in Madison County, I keep getting good reports from our service centers. People call me and they’ll say, ‘Mr. Chairman, the service center is doing a great job with as many people as they’re serving.’’’

* Downtown parking: “That’s an issue that’s got to be at the top of our list (moving forward).’’

* Budget/credit rating: “The budget for the 2026 fiscal year is balanced and secure. In the Standard and Poor global ratings, Madison County’s credit rating is a AA+ with a stable outlook.’’

* Employee pay: “In the past two years, we have also completed an aggressive employee compensation review. And this has allowed Madison County to remain competitive in the job market. This compensation review is something that we needed in the county because we wanted to make sure that our employees that do a lot of great work for the people of this county are getting the proper and needed pay, that we were competitive in the job market, so we could go out and get the best of the best. And Madison County sure has the best of the best.’’

Sheriff Turner won’t argue.

“We are the diamond of Alabama,’’ he said. “There is no other place in the state of Alabama that is like the City of Huntsville and Madison County.’’