Montgomery City Council approves new city flag

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – The Montgomery City Council has adopted a new city flag to replace a flag that has been in place since 1952.

The new flag features one large star in the center, with nine smaller stars to represent the city’s nine city council districts.

City leaders had sought designs from the public. A total of 27 designs were submitted, Montgomery City Council member Oronde Mitchell told Action 8 News last year. They were narrowed down to five finalists last summer.

The idea of changing the flag had been talked about in 2015.  Then-council member David Burkette spoke in favor changing the flag, saying that the city flag had similarities to the Confederate flag and should be revised. That flag has 11 stars, representing each state in the Confederacy.

The vote to change the flag was 6-1, with Montgomery City Council member Glen Pruitt voting against it. He said his opposition wasn’t due to the design, but the cost involved. He had asked why the council was never given information about how much changing the flag would cost in altering uniforms and other items. He said there were more pressing needs, especially with the city raising garbage fees by $5. He also mentioned street-paving needs and 911 call response.

Mitchell said the city had been asking departments for cost estimates for two years, but didn’t get much response.

The council voted to make the change effective on October 1, the start of the 2027 fiscal year, so that any costs could be part of the departments’ budgeting process.