Southaven budget proposal presented

Aug 28, 2024- At a special called meeting of the Southaven Board of Aldermen Tuesday evening, city officials presented the Fiscal Year 2025 budget proposal. 

The city plans to work under a budget worth $121.24 million in the fiscal year, beginning Oct. 1. That is an increase of $17.24 million over the current year’s budget. 

There will be no property tax increase for city residents under the proposal and sales tax is projected to remain consistent. There are increases in Mississippi Infrastructure Modernization Act funds and increases in franchise fees. There is also a projection of increases in parks and BankPlus Amphitheater revenues. 

Other revenue highlights are no increases in utility rates but the sanitation rate that went into effect on May 1 continues with those rates now at $20, compared to the previous $12 sanitation rate prior to May 1.  

Public safety is a priority in the budget, with plans for a real-time crime center for police, a continuation of increases in the police department for 10 additional officers, pay increases for police and fire personnel, and three additional fire vehicles.

The City also plans for additional personnel in other departments to handle increased workload and there are also plans for improvements at Cherry Valley Park and for eight additional tennis courts. 

At 41 percent, property taxes is where most of the revenue comes from with sales taxes next at 34 percent.  On the expenditure side, Southaven plans to spend 51 percent of general fund expenditures on public safety. 

Southaven’s major capital improvement projects for the upcoming fiscal year include the completion of Fire Station #5 on Stateline Road, a $5 million annual road overlay program, widening of Snowden Lake, extension of Nail Road between Getwell and Tchulahoma roads, large drainage improvement projects, neighborhood park improvements, and court building renovations.  

The public hearing on the budget proposal had no discussion. It is expected the budget will be approved by Sept. 15, the state-mandated deadline for municipal budgets to be settled to become operational at the beginning of the budget year on Oct. 1.

You can watch Tuesday’s budget hearing on the City of Southaven’s YouTube channel.