Ridgeland approves ’21 budget
RIDGELAND — At least one aldermen has expressed concerns over next year’s $16 million general fund budget as the city plans another year without raising taxes.
The recently-passed budget includes a three-percent raise for firefighters, part of an ongoing goal to raise their pay over a five-year period.
Alderman-at-Large D.I. Smith said that the city is in “great shape” financially but admits he would have liked to see a “more conservative” approach to laying out this budget as uncertainty related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to loom.
The budget, unanimously approved last Tuesday after a public hearing where no one signed up to speak, is expected to have a general fund balance with nearly $1.4 million more in expenses.
The budget projects $21,959,750 in total general fund revenues and $23,395,714 in total general fund expenditures.
The board again approved an order to levy tax millage at 11.27 for the general fund and 8.76 for the debt service fund and a total of 20.03 mills, representing a trend of not raising taxes going for more than 30 years that Mayor Gene F. McGee cites as a point of pride.
“I think we have a great budget and our department heads have done a great job,” McGee said. “We are offering superior services to our citizens without burdening them with heavy taxes and we are very proud of that.”
This is the third year of a five-year plan to give firefighters yearly raises. Smith says this has been a goal city officials have discussed to ensure that Ridgeland Fire Department personnel receive competitive pay.
“We gave the police department raises first and asked the fire department to come back to us and tell us what they needed to stay competitive,” Smith said.
McGee said that they were happy to fulfill their commitment to the first responders.
McGee said that they expect to close out the $15 million City Center project at the end of this calendar year and will also close out the $22 million Lake Harbour Extension project sometime in September. In addition to those two major capital projects, McGee said the biggest new project in this year’s budget will be about $2.5 million in sewer and drainage projects citywide.
Smith said that the Lake Harbour Extension will be a major factor in future growth of the city. He said that businesses continue to open like the recently-renovated movie theater across from North Park Mall. Smith said that the Costco opened just in time to bolster the city’s response to the coronavirus.
“The Lord really gave us Costco at just the right time,” Smith said. “I think it ensured that there were enough supplies for people to live off of and prevented us from losing too much in sales tax revenue.”
Smith said that he is concerned about potential problems another swell in cases may bring while the city is dealing with a regular flu season. He said he sees potential vulnerabilities as a portion of Costco money will be earmarked for tax increment financing and what could happen if residents prove unable to pay into other city revenue streams like ad valorem taxes and court fees, specifically if another shutdown is ordered to combat the virus.
“There is a degree of uncertainty,” Smith said.
McGee said that he remains “optimistic” and that the city has proven able to respond to virus-related concerns form the beginning.
“I think we are very prepared,” the mayor said. “At the beginning of all this earlier this year, we slimmed down the budget where we could while still providing services to our citizens.”
He went on to say that he believes the retail environment in Ridgeland to be “strong” and expect to see development continue to increase.
“I am excited to see what we can do this year,” McGee said. “I think we passed a great budget. Our department heads really rolled up their sleeves to ensure that we can do what needs to be done to offer the high quality of service our residents expect from us.”