PICAYUNE —
In a short 30-minute budget workshop at 3 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, city clerk Amber Hinton told the City Council that no increases in utility rates are expected to be incorporated in the new utility fund budget during the new fiscal year.
The council has been holding a number of budget workshops over the last few weeks, trying to hammer out a new budget for the city. Tuesday’s workshop was the last one planned for the series.
The council, after the workshop, held a hearing on the proposed tax levy for the City of Picayune, which was set at 38.66 mills, the same as last year. The council shaved about $200,000 from last year’s $2.1 million operating general fund budget for the city to prevent having to increase millage rates.
The utility department budget, however, is $4.4 million and stands outside the regular city general fund budget.
The council also said it plans to add three employees to the utility department, at the recommendation of public works superintendent Eric Morris.
The council sets the water, gas and garbage rates for the utility department. Pearl River County Utility Authority operates the sewerage system and sets those rates, although the city bills and collects the sewerage fees for PRCUA.
After the workshop, the council held a public hearing on proposed tax millage rates for the city and school boards. That meeting began at 5 p.m. The board, after hearing input from citizens, adopted the school millage rate of 66.57, which was needed to generate operational revenue of $7.8 million for the new fiscal school year budget.
City officials said state law required them to hike millage to generate the money that the school board was requesting.
Following the public hearing, and the adoption of the millage rates, the council went into regular session.
In other business, during that session, the council:
— Approved the Aug. 7 council minutes.
— Received the June privilege license report.
— Received the monthly public records requests report.
— Accepted the planning commission July 10 minutes.
— Received the monthly July budget report.
— Approved issuing a check for $1,800 to Landry & Associates Technology for the installation of video surveillance equipment in the new City Hall.
— Approved a request for out-of-state travel on Aug. 30 for the Smart Growth Summit and Pearl River Board of Realtors Visioning Workshop.
— Accepted the plat from Cooper Co. Inc. for Highland Commons Parkway east of Mississippi Highway 11
— Approved a request from G.H. Williams Estate to sub-divide one parcel of land into two parcels.
— Approved request to authorize the mayor to sign a contract with Magnolia Gas Co. for Liquid Propane conversion and fuel supply for city-owned lawn mowers.
— Adjourned to Sept. 4.
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Hinton tells council no increase in utility rates expected next year
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