Friday, August 14, 2015

Ridgeland tax hike on the drawing board.

The Madison County Journal reported the Ridgeland board of aldermen might be voting on a tax hike:


City leaders have put forth a proposed budget for next fiscal year that calls for a tax increase to generate a little over $500,000 in extra revenue.

The proposed increase is 1.11 mills to the general fund, equivalent to approximately $15 more per year for a $100,000 home.

The proposed revenue for the general fund in the upcoming fiscal year is $22,726,057 with expenditures estimated to cost $23,712,714.

If the millage increase is not passed, the proposed revenue would be $22,243,321.

The city would continue to operate on a shortfall as it has for several years to the tune of nearly $1 million or $1.5 million without a tax increase.

According to Mayor Gene McGee, sales tax revenues remain level as costs for services continue to increase.

There are a number of line items included in the budget for city services totaling $569,000.... Rest of article

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why does Ridgeland need 8 new cop cars? Anyone noticed a shortage of cop cars in Ridgeland? They don't look all that old either.

Given that this is 1/2 of the $500K that supposedly needs to be raised, some explanations are in order. I doubt we ever get them. Do as you're told, Ridgeland!

Would You Rather Be In Jackson? said...

### Metro Ad Valorem Millage Rates (2013-2014) ###

Jackson = 63.14 mils (Yarber's #GoodThingsJxn)

Jackson = 58.03 mils

Canton = 56.32 mils

Edwards = 47.0 mils
Clinton = 41.49 mils

Bolton = 36.3 mils
Byram = 34.1 mils
Flora = 33.5 mils
---> AVERAGE = 32.97 mils <---

Brandon = 29.0 mils
Madison = 28.8 mils
Terry = 27.85 mils
Pearl = 27.5 mils
Raymond = 25.62 mils
Florence = 22.9 mils
Ridgeland = 21.14 mils <-- Proposed new rate
Ridgeland = 20.03 mils

Flowood = 20.0 mils

Richland = 19.0 mils

*excludes County & School District

Kingfish said...

Well when you blow your tax revenue on Renaissance TIF's and cannibalize your Northpark Mall tax revenue...... That was a double whammy.

Anonymous said...

Still a 1/3rd of Jackson. No big deal.

Anonymous said...

KF, you either self-cannibalize or you run the risk of losing even more if not all.

Anonymous said...

HAHAHAHA "Jackson taxes are SO HIGH let's all move to Madison County."

[More people move to Madison County]

"Taxes are going up in Madison County, I don't understand why!"

Morons. In 25 years people will be moving back to Jackson to escape the high taxes and crime in Ridgeland. Keep building big box retailers and see what follows. You'll all get what you deserve.

Anonymous said...

In 25 years Jackson will have abandoned providing services in large swaths of the city. Just like Detroit. You've already received the brain you deserve.

Anonymous said...

Middle class white folk have left Ridgeland. They've been replaced by black people escaping Jackson and Latino's escaping God knows where. They're going to vote against you white rich people every chance they can. Your taxes will triple in no time.

Anonymous said...

So the blacks and Latinos are going to vote to triple their own taxes?

Anonymous said...

In their eyes they're voting to triple their landlords taxes. Same thing that's happened in Jackson.

Anonymous said...

At 9:37 the need for new police cars is an issue at every department. Majority of these cars are run 24/7 365. They get worn out and the maintenance on them with high miles cost more than buying a new one. Most of the time.

Anonymous said...

Whites will be a minority in Ridgeland fairly shortly. Gluckstadt and NW Madison county going to be growing quickly.

Anonymous said...

Gluckstadt will transition faster than any burb you have ever seen. Starter homes everywhere, and good schools and unincorporated with little zoning. Won't take ten years.

Burke said...

Death and taxes, folks. Death and taxes. You can run, but you can't hide.

Anonymous said...

Are the black and latino people moving into ridgeland bad people?

Or are they with it, middle class people who know they can not afford to live in Jackson?

Are there crime statistics for the city that corroborate this one way or another?

Or is this just a "Someone moved in next door not named Chester or Bartholomew. Time to get out" kind of thing.

Genuinely curious.

Anonymous said...

Dear Genuinely Curious,
Names have nothing to do with it. Citizens want a nice place to live. Ridgeland needs to develop and enforce strict HOA policies, stop accepting any HUD vouchers and raise rents to a minimum of $1200 for a 900 sq. foot home/apt. Collect all deposits in a lump sum (no "can I have a payment plan" stories is a BIG RED FLAG.) Don't fall for it ever, because they won't be able to afford the rent if they aren't able to save for a deposit. Explain to EVERY prospective tenant their verifiable income fom lasts years tax return and 4 most recent paystubs must be a minimum of 3 times the monthly rent. Run a credit check to see if they've been to court for previous evictions. Remember that you can have bad credit and still be a good tenant, IF the all of the other factors check out okay. Make sure that you personally call their employers human resource department- NOT THEIR BOSS, to verify their work history. Do criminal record checks. Allow no felons, sex offenders, or those with violent misdemeanors to rent. (This is legal as long as you run record checks on ALL prospective applicants that are over 18 that will reside in the home) If a boyfriend moves in at anytime, and you will know if he does, he must have a background check done. The city must charge the landlords, who can in turn charge the renters a $100 inspection fee. Only allow the children initially listed on the lease to live there. During the school year, check with the schools to see if your tenant is allowing a friend/relative to use your property address so their child can attend your schools. These ideas may seem harsh, but that's how to get good renters and keep the trash out. Treat every applicant equally and with respect and you'll never have a problem.

Anonymous said...

I was at the Mall tonite to pick up a dress. The ridgeland cop car outside the food court had its hood up.

Maybe new cars are needed?

Usually they are phased in by the MV dept. i.e., 2 cars this year, 3 the next, then 2 , etc.

Anonymous said...

Ridgeland needs all the cop cars they can get due to the rising fear of crime around Costco. Face it- Mississippi is about 40 percent non-white and communities in 2015 are starting to reflect it. Move to the upper Midwest if you can't handle it.

Anonymous said...

"Gluckstadt will transition faster than any burb you have ever seen. Starter homes everywhere, and good schools and unincorporated with little zoning. Won't take ten years until Queen Mary annexes it."

Fixed it for you.....

Anonymous said...

The Upper Midwest is getting filled with "refugees" from Somalia and the Congo thanks to Obama.

Anonymous said...

6:23 PM - you're thinking about Madison. You just forgot the $10,000.00 bond.

Anonymous said...

11:59- The $10,000 bond works well to keep the slumlords at bay. Thank you. Ridgeland should adopt the same policy. The Rankin County Reservoir adopted an Overlay area and rules. They issue citations and then fines and are ENFORCING the fines. It's working, too. Smart landlords write the responsibility of fine payments into the leases. Non-payment is grounds for immediate termination of the lease.

Anonymous said...

if they would stop giving all of those 10-15 year tax breaks to all of the new businesses that come there, they would have some money and not have to raise taxes.

Anonymous said...

Isn't The Mattiace Co. the same developer that hasn't paid the City his portion of the TIF shortfall for the Lowe's development on County Line Rd and will be seeking more TIF financing for the Renaissance projects?

Anonymous said...

If McGee would stop doing deals with Mattice, Ridgeland may not have to raise taxes.

Anonymous said...

Mattice's wife needs a new pair of shoes.


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