Karl Julian

Nonpartisan

Vestavia Hills' geography and challenging terrain make it difficult to be as connected as some of our neighboring communities. However, I would advocate for faster and more strategic implementation of the existing sidewalk plan. Our schools, retail centers, and greenspaces desperately need connectivity to areas of high residential density, particularly those with critical mass of families with school-aged children.

Vestavia ranks first in Alabama in per capita property tax collections when the millage it collects on behalf of schools is included. Families are already feeling the pinch. I won’t vote or advocate to raise your taxes. Instead, I’ll fight for smarter spending and more accountability from City Hall. I believe it’s possible to maintain and improve the quality of life our residents enjoy without raising taxes.

I will continue to prioritize funding for our schools' award-winning academic, arts, and athletic programs. As someone who has instructed children ages 3 for nearly 30 years, I know how essential great teachers are in a child’s development and how vital it is for them to have the tools and support they need to help our children succeed.

Vestavia Hills' award-winning school system, accessibility, and natural beauty make it highly attractive to people in the metro area. We need to balance residential development with the stress it puts on our school system and current infrastructure. New development needs to carefully factor classroom availability and size, flooding/drainage issues, traffic congestion, and public safety.

Although successes have been realized, Vestavia Hills continues to fall behind neighboring communities on sales tax collected per capita. Robust sales tax revenue reduces our dependence on residential property taxes to fund our city. As a small business owner myself, I recognize the importance of the responsible growth of retail, hospitality, professional services, and commercial businesses. I believe we need to support our local business owners and ensure that their needs are being met by the city, so they can be prosperous and thrive.