Real estate businesses propelled Huntsville’s mayor above the $1 million mark in income last year, while one council member topped $250,000, mostly from stock market profits, according to the latest yearly financial disclosure reports.

The Statements of Economic Interests filed with the Alabama Ethics Commission show ranges rather than specific amounts, providing a window into officials’ finances. All elected public officials and candidates at the state, county, or city levels of government must file a statement of economic interest each year. Certain employees – particularly those in supervisory roles – also must file. The deadline this year was April 1.

Mayor Tommy Battle

First elected in 2008, Battle reported a minimum gross income of $1.15 million in 2023. Most of that came from several real estate holdings and rental properties.

“The income range for the Mayor’s property holdings represents gross revenues, before expenses,” the City of Huntsville said in a statement to AL.com. “The Mayor is partial owner on some of these properties.”

Battle listed eight property-related businesses that provided income in 2023, getting at least $250,000 from two of them.

Properties that generated Battle’s lease and rental income are located primarily in Alabama, with one in Florida.

The mayor receives more than $150,000 in annual salary from the city; the council president gets $47,000, and the other four council members get $38,000 each.

Councilman Bill Kling

The council’s longest-serving member, first elected in 1988, reported more than $250,000 in income last year. His financial report shows that most of his income came from financial market investments, between $150,000 and $250,000, which helped push Kling’s 2023 income above $250,000.

“My income comes from my City Council paycheck, Alabama state retirement, and stock market investments,” Kling said in an email to AL.com. “And my wife’s Alabama state retirement also. We own no real estate other than the house that we live in.”

Kling’s filing shows only income from unnamed stocks.

Councilman David Little

Little, representing District 2, has a financial adviser job that paid him between $50,000 and $150,000 in 2023. His wife’s rental business puts the family’s 2023 income at between $150,000 and $250,000.

Councilwoman Jennie Robinson

Councilwoman Robinson, first elected in 2014, reported her family’s gross income to be between $150,000 and $250,000, mainly from her husband’s research scientist position.

“Please note that the statement of economic interest is a report of combined income for my husband and me,” Robinson said in a statement to AL.com. “The report is accurate for our combined income. Since I quit my full-time job to care for family members, my only income has been my council salary.”

“And the portion of that salary that represents the raise the council voted itself (and which I voted against) is automatically deducted and sent to the Community Foundation.”

Councilman John Meredith

Council President Meredith, who started his second term in office this year, received between $50,000 and $150,000 in 2023. In August, he told AL.com in a text message that he has no other job besides being a council member. Meredith did not reply to a request for comment for this story.

Councilwoman Michelle Watkins

Watkins was elected this year to her first term as a council member. Her income in 2023 was between $50,000 and $150,000. She works as lead management & program analyst for the U.S. Army Garrison at Redstone Arsenal.