Meeting covers concerns ahead of Friday’s budget vote
JACKSON, Tenn. — An informal meeting was held Thursday morning at Town and Country Realtors, with a few Jackson City Councilmembers in attendance.
The discussion consisted of budget concerns ahead of Friday morning’s vote.
With the proposed record-breaking budget currently sitting at a deficit due to a large increase in expenses, the City is once again tapping into the rainy day fund for $3 million to make up the difference.
The question is not whether the proposed expenses are good ideas, but if the City can currently afford them.
Following the meeting, we were able to speak with Councilman Larry Lowrance.
“What we’re trying to do is get more transparent,” Lowrance said. “We need to look and analyze, are we paying fairly? Are we using the salary schedule and the salary plan two years ago across the board and paying, again, fairly? In addition to that, we want to really concentrate on why we have no money for roads.”
Some councilmembers feel like this process needs to go differently in the future. Lowrance shares how this could work.
“Next year we’ll be better,” he said. “I think the Council is not going to let this happen again. Even though it was not directly our fault, we should have been more aggressive. And everybody, just not the Council, I am sure the Mayor and everybody wants to do the same.”
Councilmember Candace Busby spoke with us about how no one is against the increases in salaries, however, questions need to be asked to get the full scope of the budget.
“I think it needs to be noted that Council respects City employees and they do a great job,” said Busby. “But it’s not beyond us to be able to ask questions. That’s what our job is.”
The City Council will meet at 9 a.m. Friday, July 19 at Jackson City Hall.
Again — no one is denying City workers deserve raises. The question is whether or not the City can afford double digit increases in a single year and not have to remove money from its operating budget for areas such as road repair.
We will bring you updates regarding the discussion at the meeting and the results of the vote.
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