Jackson budget passes on first reading with salary increases, shelter funding in tact

After passing on the first reading in a 5-2 vote, momentum on Jackson's 2024-2025 fiscal year budget continued at Friday's special-called city council meeting.

This is the first time the budget has been on the agenda since the council voted to defer it back to the budget committee for further review earlier this summer.

The budget committee met on June 26 when it recommended that the council adopt the nearly $100 million budget in conjunction with a reimbursement resolution and an accompanying debt issue proposal.

Both of which have been highly discussed, the amended budget ordinance includes $49 million in salary increases across city sectors and a transfer of funds for the men's homeless shelter.

At the budget meeting, Jackson City Recorder Bobby Arnold suggested that financing the city's debt would reimburse the general fund reserves and expense the cost of capital assets over the life of them, like the homeless shelter.

The council is scheduled to reconvene for another special-called meeting on Friday to vote on the second reading of the budget.

Passed on first reading

Councilwoman Candice Busby (District 3) and Larry Lowrance (District 6) cast the two votes opposed.

Councilmembers J.P. Stovall (District 1) and Marda Wallace (District 7) were absent at Friday's meeting, while Johnny Dodd (District 2) attended via Zoom.

Votes were counted by roll call.

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When asked why he ultimately voted against passing the budget ordinance, Lowrance attributed unanswered questions.

"The questions I've asked have not been answered," he said.

"Three months ago I was told what great financial shape we're in as a city and now we're going into talking about tax increases and borrowing money? Something just doesn't gel there."

As part of the budget, salary increases are potentially on the horizon for the Jackson Fire Department and Jackson Police Department.

JFD's salary is proposed to be up $938,593 from the previous fiscal year, while JPD's is up $2.1 million.

Lowrance posed the question: "I'm wondering if the taxpayers are really happy with a 14.4% increase in salaries in one year?"

JFD Firefighter Mike Shipley spoke during public comment on behalf of Corey Bradford, President of the Jackson Firefighters Association Local 1850.

To demonstrate the sheer call volume of the job, he noted that in the past 30 days, ending on July 9, JFD responded to 973 calls.

"I'm asking for the council for their deep consideration in passing the budget set forth by the fire department employees who go above and beyond on a daily basis doing the best job in the world," he said.

In the discussion of what stands to be cut from the budget, Councilmember Russ McKelvey (District 8) noted the implications of not funding salary increases.

"We committed to paying better after our wage study in 2022, we made a promise to do that, and I hope that council will honor that commitment that we made a couple years ago so that the men and women who work hard for the city every day can get a paycheck and keep a position they deserve," he said.

In the ongoing, nationwide battle of officer recruitment and retainment, Police Chief Thom Corley says the department must offer competitive pay.

"The field of law enforcement has just changed over the last several years and certainly with pay and benefits, officers need to be rewarded for what they're doing," he said.

In 2018, the starting pay for a JPD officer was $35,484.

As of August 2023, the starting pay was $50,169 while the proposed budget would increase it to $56,201.

The council must pass the budget on a second reading to meet the August 31 deadline for budget submission to the comptroller.

Sarah Best is a reporter for The Jackson Sun. To support local journalism, subscribe to the Daily Briefing here.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Jackson's fiscal year 2024-2025 budget passes on first reading