Jackson Free Press

Read the city's budget proposal

The city of Jackson managed to save about $2 million in the second quarter of this fiscal year by not filling some staff positions, but is proposing to reduce the budget by another $840,549 to help cover a $1.79 million budget shortfall.

To meet the shortfall, the administration intends to cut the city's department budget by a total of $840,549, but also proposes to tap the city's fund balance reserves by $600,000. Additionally, The city's Parks and Recreation Department, which is a separate allocation from the department budget, will lose $350,000 in appropriations from the city's general fund.

"Our department directors have done a yeoman's job of saving money, which helps to keep the budget in line," city spokesman Chris Mims told the Jackson Free Press Monday. "Most of the savings came from personnel services where directors have not filled positions except for those that are critical, plus there are some savings from supplies."

Mims pointed out that the city hasn't had to lay off any employees this quarter and assured that the city isn't leaving critical positions vacant.

The savings mirror an extra $2.3 million the city managed to save in the 1st quarter of fiscal year 2010. The city council authorized Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. to transfer that $2.3 million from city departments to make up for lost sales tax revenue for the first quarter of the fiscal year in April.

Mims was unwilling to predict if the city could manage to save any extra money in the following quarter through similar tactics. Johnson told the council in March that expensive summer programs, such as student work programs and city pool operation, were likely to eat away savings in follow-up quarters.

The administration is looking ahead to a slim budget year, due to a reduction in homestead reimbursements from the state, a drop in money the city earns from utility companies through franchise fees and decreased permit fees. It plans to use the savings from each department as a blueprint for budget reductions in the next quarter.

The police department will suffer some of the steepest cuts, with a 303,898 reduction.

Assistant Police Chief Lee Vance said the department is putting together a proposal to handle the cost reduction, but could not speak on the proposal before the administration properly vetted it.

"We don't spend money that we don't have, and we insist that all our deputy chiefs manage their respective division as frugally as possible. We understand that money is tight," Vance said today.

Vance said the department has not downsized in any capacity, but spreads the police force more efficiently. "One of the things that used to impact our overtime budget was when the fair would come to town, and things like the rodeo. A few years ago we started Precinct 5, a roving precinct, which now does things like cover special events, which has saved us thousands of dollars in overtime costs," Vance said.