City leaders discuss budget needs, hear concerns during Thursday’s meeting
JACKSON, Tenn. — City leaders agreed to workshop Thursday’s budget meeting and instead listened to more city leaders regarding their needs for the budget.
Jackson City Councilman, JP Stovall, left the workshop feeling better about the budget.
“I feel better after today. I do feel better I’m glad we were able to hear from department heads about what they needed for their budgets,” said Stovall.
This has been one of the largest budgets in years for the city of Jackson.
“Well there’s progress made because a lot of the facts got brought up. We’re right now debating a 7.8 percent increase in expenses which is pretty high in the history of Jackson- we’ve been pretty high the last ten years. But a lot of great ideas came out and we’re gonna meet again Monday,” said Larry Lowrance, Jackson city councilman.
This budget proposes an increase in a large portion of city jobs.
Jackson’s City Council members listened to each department from city leaders on why their budget was needed.
Chief Thom Corley with the Jackson Police Department, shared why the department needs $1.2 million for new police cars.
“We’ve got several we have we’re having to decommission right now because the maintenance cost alone cost prohibited to keep that vehicle or they’re just unsafe to drive,” said Corley.
Corley also mentioned that they are making up for lost years of not receiving new cars and to possibly have a take home car program in the future.
However, one resident was not impressed with the projected budget.
“The idea that our city is about to make a mistake is probably going to increase property taxes at some point or kick the can down the road by borrowing money and increase property tax later. For some of the ways we’re looking at spending money later is crazy,” said Brad Greer, Jackson realtor.
City Councilwoman, Candice Busby, doesn’t believe the time to review and agree on a budget this large is appropriate.
“We have not been given adequate time to sufficiently go through this and to make a rush decision for the city is premature to me and so I think we needed to have a work sessions. I mean we have four or five new people new on council,” said Busby.
However, Stovall was able to leave the meeting feeling better about their game plan.
“The progress I hope to make between now and Monday will be to really be able to sit down really go over the budget and see if there are some amendments that can perhaps be made where we can cut where we can add to because again infrastructure so vitally important in our city,” said Stovall.
Some councilmen agreed that they will not vote until the budget mentions the cost of road repairs and other infrastructure upgrades.
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