Ridgeland employees to receive raises

RIDGELAND — The proposed budget for the Fiscal 2024 has no new taxes and a raise for city employees, officials say.

“I am very pleased,” Mayor Gene F. McGee said. “The department heads worked very hard to ensure we had a good budget.”

McGee noted that the City of Ridgeland has not raised taxes since he has been at the helm since 1989.

He said he was proud of the city’s accounting staff and department heads for getting the budget “where it needed to be” during what he described as a “tough year.”

Specifically, McGee said he was pleased that city employees would receive a three-percent pay raise. 

“You just don't get to do that every year,” McGee said.

The last two budgets have featured five-percent pay raises for city employees.

City Clerk Paula Tierce presented the proposed budget to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen during a public hearing held Aug. 22. The proposed FY 2024 budget projects revenues around $29 million and expenditures close to $32 million.

Tierce noted that these estimates represent conservative forecasts specifically for revenues. She also noted the expected end-of-year general fund balance will be around a $20 million surplus.

The city board plans to approve the final FY 2024 budget at one of their September meetings. The first is currently scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 5. 

The FY 2023 Fiscal Year ends on Sept. 30 and the new year begins on Oct. 1.