Head of Jackson Budget Committee addresses budget concerns

JACKSON, Tenn. — We spoke to head of the budget committee, Frank McMeen, regarding the City of Jackson’s proposed budget.

Topics discussed included double digit salary increases for city employees, clarification on taxes and whether they would increase, and the costs of the city needing to borrow more money.

When it comes to city employees salary increases, McMeen compares the city to the concept of a business.

“The city is much like a business. When you look at a business, the business is as successful as the employees that run the business. We are wanting to make sure we have great employees, they are rewarded and compensated for their services, and that they do a good job. They are loyal. They are committed to what they are doing,” said McMeen.

McMeen say taxes will not increase this year, but in time they will. He says this was one of the topics discussed when the budget was taken back to the committee to review.

“We cannot have an increase, not this year, because of what our citizens have had to deal with. With increasing gas costs, food costs, housing costs, rental costs– they don’t need to have to deal with that this year, at some point because we are a growing city,” said McMeen.

However the census shows, Jackson has grown point one percent since 2020.

As for borrowing money and dipping into the rainy day fund, the goal is to build that number back up in the future.

“Everything can’t be covered by a debt of a bond issue. So we’re going to be going down a bit. I think there may be about $724,000 dollars that we may pull from that rainy day fund and not the 3 million that we thought we may have to do. And hopefully in the near future we will be able to replenish those funds,” said McMeen.

However the 3 million dollars taken from the rainy day fund is still in the proposed budget.

McMeen is optimistic for the future and assures citizens the budget is not something that should be alarming.

“A year from now, that you see noticeable improvements on streets, in safety,” said McMeen.

Next year’s budget has zero dollars set aside for road improvements.

The council is considering borrowing money for additional projects.

McMeen also said if the budget was alarming, the comptroller for the state would step in.

The council will decide on whether to approve or deny the proposed budget on Friday, July 12.

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