McComb property taxes will likely rise 2.18 mills to 40.94, to fund the 2007-08 budget, a preliminary look at the $12.3 million spending plan suggests.
At a budget workshop meeting Monday, city finance director Laura Burris projected a total budget of $12,368,781, which increases spending by $510,969 more than in the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.
Selectmen have until Sept. 15 to ratify the new budget, which takes effect Oct. 1.
The budget also calls for borrowing $2 million to complete the McComb Sports Park.
City officials anticipate a 2007-08 ending fund balance of $7,473, which City Administrator Sam Mims called “dismal.” But he expects that figure to be padded by increased sales tax revenue from business growth in the past year.
Spending for two of the city’s biggest departments, public safety and public works, will rise to accommodate across-the-board pay raises that city employees received this past spring.
The raises included a $5,000 increase for police officers and $5,755 for firefighters.
The Department of Public Safety’s budget is expected to rise by $549,478, primarily from a $735,167 increase in personnel services, which includes salaries and benefits. Of that, there’s $205,229 in salary and benefit increases for the police and $400,429 for the fire department.
Spending for the Department of Public Works is expected to reach $2,377,779, a $65,419 increase from the 2006-07 budget. Public works salaries and benefits are set to increase by $155,691.
Numbers for the Department of Recreation also are expected to rise, but an error in the figures presented Monday kept estimates murk today.
City officials also are anticipating increased costs in health, dental and life insurance.
The McComb School District is not asking for a tax increase to fund its budget, which went into effect in July.
In other budget matters, selectmen considered giving the Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Mississippi $25,000, a $10,000 increase. Several other agencies receiving funding last year also requested the same amount for 2007-08.
Public Works Director Ronnie Lindsey made requests for new equipment including backhoes, a street sweeper and other heavy machinery. He said some of his current fleet is aging and requires expensive repairs.
Lindsey also requested more personnel for the street division and vehicle maintenance.
Patterson told Lindsey he needs to start developing a better fleet management procedure so city officials know when a piece of equipment is due for replacement ahead of time.
Recreation Director Joseph Parker requested an additional truck and computer supplies.
Police Chief Billie Hughes requested two police cars and four unmarked vehicles. Hughes also requested two more dispatchers and eight additional police officers. He said the officers and the two unmarked cars would be used for a special street crime unit that would concentrate on high-crime areas.
Hughes said officers don’t have the ability to consistently patrol these areas without being called away for traffic incidents and other situations.
“I’m looking for ways to keep the pressure on the criminal element,” Hughes said.
Patterson, selectmen and Hughes also discussed the apparent lack of career opportunities with the police department. Patterson told Hughes to start thinking about how to reorganize the department to make it better suited for career advancement.
Patterson also discussed with Hughes a prior agreement to hold off on hiring an assistant chief until October to save money for the current fiscal year.
In other matters, Patterson said the city will be more vigilant in collecting overtime reimbursement from McComb schools for officers placed there as well as money due to the city from oil drilling that Pike County has apparently failed to pass down.
The mayor and selectmen also discussed forming a separate account for revenue earmarked for the new sewage treatment plant. The $3 capital improvement fee, created several years ago, and the February water and sewer rate increase designed to raise $1.3 million for the plant, would be channeled into the account.
City officials say the change will allow the funds to be more recognizable since they’re currently lumped in the department’s operational fund.
