Tuesday was a night for aldermen in DeSoto County cities to address their Fiscal Year 2025 budgets and all four cities put their stamp of approval for their city’s operating budget for the upcoming 12 months, starting in October. Here’s a recap of what happened at board meetings Tuesday night when considering their budgets. They needed to be passed by Sept. 15 to be active on Oct. 1, as imposed by state law.
SOUTHAVEN
Southaven aldermen Tuesday night approved the Fiscal Year ‘25 Budget and Tax Levy. There will be no millage increase for the budget, which will total more than $121.4 million, an increase from the current fiscal budget year total budget of $104.16 million.
Budget highlights include no property tax increase, sales tax projected to remain constant, and no utility rate increase. There will be more funding for public safety, including a real-time crime center for police, the continuation of the police officer expansion plan with 10 positions open for growth, plus pay increases for police and fire personnel, three fire vehicles and new CPR devices. Improvement of Parks and Recreational amenities, including tennis expansion and Cherry Valley renovation.
Public safety will get 51 percent of the general fund expenditures, administration 12 percent, and parks will receive 12 percent.
HERNANDO
Hernando aldermen approved its Fiscal Year 2025 budget Tuesday evening. The City will be adding more employees, including two in the police department, six medics for the new ambulance, two in the parks department, one in programming/maintenance, two in dispatch and a part time employee is becoming a full-time employee in the court system.
Alderman Chad Wicker provided the following highlights of the budget:
Five percent pay Increase for all city employees: Building on our commitment to recognize the hard work of our municipal workforce, this budget includes a five percent pay increase for all city employees. This investment not only rewards their dedication but also helps retain top talent in public service.
Expansion of City Workforce: To better serve our growing community, the budget provides for the addition of 12 new employees, including 2 new police officers, 2 dispatchers, 6 medics, and 2 parks employees. These new positions will strengthen our city’s ability to maintain high service standards.
Record Investment in Infrastructure: With a historic allocation of $5.8 million for road improvements, this budget marks a significant investment in the city’s infrastructure. Key projects include the construction of a new roundabout at Holly Springs and McIngvale, the repaving of McIngvale from I‐269 to Pleasant Hill, and nearly $900,000 in additional paving projects set to begin this fall.
Contingency Fund: Demonstrating prudent financial management, $2.2 million has been allocated to the city’s contingency fund, ensuring Hernando is well‐prepared for unexpected challenges or opportunities.
Unwavering Commitment to Public Safety: Over 66.2% of the $22.7 million general fund budget—equating to more than $15 million—is dedicated to public safety. This substantial investment underscores our commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all residents.
No Property Tax Increase: Continuing our tradition of fiscal conservatism, the approved budget maintains the city’s millage rate at 40.76, the second lowest in DeSoto County. There has been no property tax rate increase since this Board of Aldermen took office in July 2021, reflecting our dedication to minimizing the financial burden on our taxpayers.
OLIVE BRANCH
Olive Branch aldermen approved its Fiscal Year ‘25 budget with a millage rate of 38.5 mills, which remained the same from last year. Mayor Ken Adams said the financial department has worked the past 3.5 months in preparing the budget.
Some of the highlights in the Olive Branch budget that was approved are the following:
No increase to the City’s millage rate of 38.5 mills, as Olive Branch maintains the lowest tax millage rate of all cities in DeSoto County and there is no tax increase for the 10th year by the City of Olive Branch.
A five-percent cost-of-living-adjustment for full-time employees and a two-percent COLA increase for part-time employees.
Twelve new full-time positions were requested and only 3 were approved.
General Fund revenues and use tax diversions will be used to fund $4,000,000 in road paving to continue our multi-year plan to improve roadways in the City.
Funding was approved to continue design and construction of a new public works facility, animal shelter and fire station.
Six pickleball courts and a bathroom to be constructed at the main City Park at an estimated cost of $923,578 was approved.
An estimated $3.5 million bond issuance was approved to be paid by 1% hotel tax proceeds for expansion of the soccer complex, which includes 2 lighted fields, 2 unlighted practice fields, combined concession and bathroom building, sidewalks, landscaping and 405 parking spaces.
$1.205 million was budgeted to fund the Maywood Gas Rehabilitation Project
52.6 percent or $32,076,948 of General Fund expenditures are for public safety.
HORN LAKE
Horn Lake aldermen, on a split vote, passed its Fiscal Year 2025 budget Tuesday night. Revenues in the budget total $30.8 million for Fiscal Year ‘2025, compared to $30.272 million for Fiscal Year ‘2024 and the millage rate in Horn Lake will be 50 mills for the upcoming budget.
In the discussion ahead of the vote, Alderman Jackie Bostick said he disagreed on three specific items, including one area where he said a couple of departments increased salaries and said one employee’s salary increased by $20,000.
“I’m not sure how they did this, but one department put people on salary and their payroll went up $20,000 on two people,” Bostick said. “I feel like it’s not fair across the board when we want $2,100 for our employees and two employees are getting $20,000 cut between them.”
Alderman Dave Young agreed with Bostick, and added the budget is very tight, noting that money had to be taken out of the city’s Rainy Day Fund to make it balanced. He said the city needs more money to come into it.
“We need positive new revenue to go into this city,” Young said. “We need new revenue streams. Without it, it’s very, very grim. This year was not a positive asset for the city and its future.”
When the vote was taken, it passed on a 4-3 vote with Aldermen Bostick, Young, and Robbie Dupree voting against it.
