Jackson Free Press

After months of delays, the mayor's administration finally handed over budget revisions to address the city's $3.9 million budget shortfall.

City Council's budget committee voted 6-0 to bring those revisions before the full council in the upcoming weeks. The revisions would balance the budget by freezing or closing vacant positions and making deep cuts to city funding of such organizations as the Jackson Zoo and the Greater Jackson Arts Council. The city would withhold about $35,000 from each of those organizations. The city would also cut $7,500 in funding to Stewpot Community Services, more than $6,000 from the Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross and another $5,000 from the Urban League of Greater Jackson. Those cuts would save $113,450.

Jon Salem, programs director at the Greater Jackson Arts Council, said the city's cut essentially amounted to a retraction of a promise made at the beginning of the budget cycle, and said his agency was trying to figure out how to cope with the cuts.

"This has never happened within a budget year. They (the city) were so late this year. The contract made it to our offices in March, but this was supposed to have happened last year," Salem said. "Right now we're just coping with the aftershocks. We're already pretty lean. We only have three full-time employees."

The city would also freeze or close numerous jobs in the city, saving $1,269,266, though Administration Director Rick Hill warned that city residents will certainly be feeling the cuts in services.

"It's not that we won't be getting our services done. It's just that it will take longer because we'll be giving more work to the people (we still have)," Hill told the committee, saying the alternative was lay-offs of current staff. "I can understand why service reduction picks up your ear, because your constituents pay their taxes and should get what they pay for, but we feel that right now is not the time to reduce our staff through lay-offs. I don't want to be dishonest with the council and say all is rosy."

Councilman Leslie McLemore was most concerned about Public Works, the city department responsible for maintaining city streets and water and sewer repairs. McLemore called upon Public Works Director Thelman Boyd to explain specifically what the budget revision would mean for his department.

Boyd said the reductions would close down about 120 essential positions in Public Works, including the deputy director and engineering manager positions. Boyd said the shut-down would leave a bare-bones department that would be hard pressed to keep up with street and utility repairs. Weekend work would be eliminated altogether unless it qualified as emergency work.

"We received some reduction on in-house street resurfacing, even though we passed a 1 mill (tax increase last year). ... Because of the reduction, it's hard for us to do street resurfacing and repair utilities, because those are the same people who do both. When we do street resurfacing, some utility problems will not be repaired in the time they should be," Boyd said.

The department had planned to replace its 17-year-old street-repaving machine this year. Boyd said the ancient machine racks up expensive repair and parts fees. The city had to forestall that purchase, however, and continue making do with the tools it has.

"There will be delays—not delays, but we won't get to them as fast as we'd like to," Boyd said.

Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon warned that the cuts would lead to a new round of complaints from city residents, who already complain about decaying streets and foul-tasting drinking water.

"Nobody even mentioned (cutting the pay of) the people who make over $100,000 a year," Barrett-Simone said. "Did we even ask about those employees, if they would voluntarily pull a percentage of their checks? Was there ever any talk about that? We're short firemen and police officers. These are the maintenance workers. These are the people out in the street. This is the place where the rubber meets the road."

Chief Administrative Officer Robert Walker explained that the city only has "about 18 employees making more than $70,000," and pointed out that "there were no sacred cows," in the revisions. He promised that the city would continue scrutinizing its management positions in upcoming years.

"We're currently looking at our organizational structure in preparation for the next fiscal year, and it's my opinion that we'll come back here next year not as top-heavy as you see us now," Walker said.

Councilman Marshand Crisler said the city would suffer if vacancies were not filled. "Freezing positions is nothing new to the city. Mayor Johnson did that (in his administration), but the positions we're freezing now aren't non-essential jobs this time. These jobs aren't the positions that we could afford to ignore and leave unfilled for months or years at a time. These are essential positions vacated by a massive shift of employees out of the city," Crisler said. "I can't sit down to my computer without reading about a new retirement or a transfer out of the city. These are serious positions, and city residents are really going to feel the cost of these vacancies."

Former Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. said the city could not do without some of the eliminated positions. "You can't do without a deputy director or a traffic engineer. Dan Galliet was the traffic director who left recently and the traffic situation around that Saints game (on Lakeland Drive) last year was the worst we've ever had," Johnson said. "They'll either need these positions filled, or they'll have to contract them out."

The revisions also project to close most of the budget gap by collecting fines for traffic tickets and other violations. Walker said the city had brought in five employees dedicated to collecting past-due fines, though he refused to tell who the employees were, or from what department they had been transferred. The revisions project that the city could take in $1,192,067 through fine and ticket collections.

Johnson said the city, under his administration, had already set collection agencies after outstanding warrants.

"Every administration coming in regards those warrants as free money. ... It takes a lot of work to collect it. If it didn't, then it would have been collected by now." Johnson said.

McLemore said he was glad the municipal court was finally taking the issue seriously, having criticized Johnson's earlier attempts with collection agencies.

Both Johnson and McLemore added, however, that they would be surprised if the municipal court successfully rounded up almost $1.2 million by the middle of September. If the courts don't come through on their end, though, the city may have no choice but to tap into its budget reserve fund.

"Once we're at the end of the cycle, I don't see us having any option but filling holes with the reserve fund," Crisler said. "State law says the budget has to be balanced."

Previous Comments

ID

67725

Comment

More city department cuts, huh? Is there anything left to cut?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-05T00:00:19-06:00

ID

67726

Comment

Maybe he should try cutting out some of the positions he invented for his supporters. I mean do we really reap any benefits from anything Stephanie Parker-Weaver does?

Author

honey2me

Date

2007-06-05T07:25:31-06:00

ID

67727

Comment

Marshall Ramsey's cartoon today about Melton is right on. However, he left off one statement: "Brought to you courtesy of The Clarion-Ledger." (Especially the editorial board and the metro desk. Thanks, Ledger.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-06-05T11:00:47-06:00

ID

67728

Comment

Donna, that was funny. His office looks like the gates of...

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-05T11:10:21-06:00

ID

67729

Comment

I saw that cartoon. The only thing missing to me was a fiddle in Melton's hands.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-06-05T11:10:25-06:00

ID

67730

Comment

I updated this story. Does anyone else question whether the city will be able to recoup $2.6 million in unpaid fines by the end of the fiscal year?

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-06-05T11:19:56-06:00

ID

67731

Comment

I do Brian. I have zero confidence in this adminstration's ability to produce a balanced budget without raising taxes.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-06-05T11:32:56-06:00

ID

67732

Comment

For him to even raise $100,000 through fines and impounding cars from roadblocks would be a miracle. I'm more worried about the job cuts to our basic services - Sewer and Water! So, if a water main breaks on your street on Saturday, Monday will be the first day it may be repaired. And if your sewer backs up due to the system or rains! Pooh Eee! But, Marcus Ward has a nice car - isn't that what matters?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-06-05T12:21:30-06:00

ID

67733

Comment

If my memory serves me correctly, Mayor Melton said that if there was ever to be cuts during his administration, then he would start at the top. I agree with Councilwoman Barrett-Simon. There just seems to be too many Assistant Chief Officers. If Donna Ladd can work without an assistant in this hectic office, then our city "officials" (who probably don't do much anyways) can do the same.

Author

Melishia

Date

2007-06-05T13:42:15-06:00

ID

67734

Comment

I feel so sorry for the Zoo and their hard working staff. They are already on bare bones (no pun intended) over there. We have so few quality family attractions here, and the ones we do have are barely surviving. If we didn't have the state funded parks and museums we would be in even worse shape. If we could get rid of a few of those people in City Hall who simply carry water for the Mayor, hint hint, we would be a lot better off!

Author

lanier77

Date

2007-06-05T13:53:45-06:00

ID

67735

Comment

Please remind yourself to drive over to Riverwood Dr and see the Mayor's nice PAVED ROAD going to his house. This road was paved a few months ago; yet, "Riverwood Dr" was slated for 2007 pavings - which have just now begun! If they are going to be done now? His house is at the end on Carters Grove - behind the gate! Behind the other gate! LOL! Paved road! Good thing that 17 year old machine still worked!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-06-05T16:55:33-06:00

ID

67736

Comment

Thanks for the update, Brian. After reading it, I'm a little depressed, but I haven't given up hope. Lord knows I don't wish anything bad on this city, but I'm afraid that it may take dealing with a lack of services for people to wake up and see what's going on at the top. Talk about a bucket of cold water being dumped on you. Brrrrr.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-05T19:12:49-06:00

ID

67737

Comment

Margaret for mayor! I know Mrs. Barrett does not have a conflict, and we're holding up the school system." "I'm not prepared at this time to vote on a school board appointee," responded Margaret Barrett Simon, who represents Ward 7. "Okay, well, I'm going to have to do it by executive order," replied Melton. "Do what you have to do," Simon said.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-06-05T22:02:40-06:00

ID

67738

Comment

There is no way collection of fines will happen. There is a pervasive bad vibe through many of these city workers. I actually interviewed to be a city prosecutor. The head prosecutor said "Its boring but we get home by five, doesn't take much thought" I then guessed it was do to the high number of pleas. She said "No, most people go to trial, they know that almost always the officer won't show up so they walk, or even if they are convicted there is no room in the jail, and they ain't paying the fines anyway, so they go to trail, and it usually gets dismissed because there is either no officer or complaining witness. Complaining witnesses usually are too hard to track down once they make the arrest statement. That is our city government. Everyone knows there is no effort, no care. It starts with the mayor and floats down. I am happier turning it down and heading into private practice. I have accountability to myself, there was non in city government. AGamma627

Author

AGamm627

Date

2007-06-05T23:20:17-06:00

ID

67739

Comment

Pike, that's a trip. AGamm, that's depressing. When is the next citywide election? It's time to clean house.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-06T09:22:06-06:00

ID

67740

Comment

Are0 Jane Sargent and Heidel still on city payroll?. What are they doing for their high salaries?? I wonder if the council are approving their checks. AGamm627 you are doing the right thing. Those city attorneys are a joke. If the state suditor really audits you will be surprised at what is going to come forth.

Author

jada

Date

2007-06-06T09:30:23-06:00

ID

67741

Comment

jada, yes, yes, and nothing are the answers to your questions. Michelle Purvis resigned from her Assistant City Attorney position with the City. She is running for District Attorney and is trying to create a disconnect from Melton. I don't understand this train of throught because, Stephanie Parker-Weaver is wearing her t-shirt and passing out literature. I'm sure that Stephanie could not and would not do this without frank's blessings.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-06-19T09:21:18-06:00

ID

67742

Comment

Thanks justjess I am really sick or the city giving our money away. I am going to contact my council person LM and ask him if he is approving these salaries. We need to really get on the council since they seem to be so worried about the budget. Why are they cntinuing to pay without questioning the work these people are supposed to be doing.

Author

jada

Date

2007-06-19T09:37:51-06:00

ID

67743

Comment

jada, did you get my email?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-19T09:41:36-06:00