Friday, August 17, 2018

Mayor Lumumba Rolls Out Budget

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba presented a budget that will not increase taxes but give city employees a small raise.  However, a large increase in bond payments and abysmal water/sewer collections somewhat handcuffed the Mayor's ambitions.  Here are the highlights of the proposed budget.


*Keep taxes at same level.

*Workers get a 2% pay raise for cost of living. 

*Debt service payments will jump 38% next year.  The main culprits are the two 2010 issues of general obligations bonds. Hmmm...... didn't someone warn about those bonds back in 2010?  The combined payments for them increase from $992,807 to $4,200,954 (p.3).  The payment for another issue will decrease substantially but the savings is torpedoed by these 2010 bonds.   Thank you, Harvey and Porter.  (Slide 4)

*Property assessments remained flat.   Thus the millage available for the general fund will decrease by 5%.  Total tax millage is 63.03 mills.

*You want the numbers? Here are the numbers.



*The water/sewer revenue fund is expected to decrease $13 million in FY 2019.  (Slide 15).  Water/sewer billings through Q3/2017 are $49.5 million but the collections for the same period are $34.4 million.  The collection rate is 70%.  The collection rate actually fell during FY 2018.    The average monthly collections fell 42%.   Water/sewer is projected to have a collection rate of 64% for FY 2018. 

It appears next year will be a lean one for Jackson.




21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kudos to Lumumba for finding a way to give the city employees a raise even though times are lean.

Anonymous said...

Yes, just what the tax payers want there hard earned taxes to go towards. Government workers getting a raise. Kudos my ass... your likely not a tax payer. If you are then your either young or a total dumbass.

Anonymous said...

only one way to fix an old bond issue. new bond issue!

Anonymous said...

A CL article this morning said the City will have a 63% collection rate of owed water bills this fiscal year. Out of an anticipated 71 million in potential water bills, the City will only collect 45 million, a loss of 26 million dollars which should otherwise be collected. 26 million not collected in one year !!! Think of the good 26 million could do for the City. What the hell is going on ? Haven't they been trying to fix the billing system for 2-3 years now ? Obviously the City hasn't
been able to and/or can't fix the problem, so bring someone in who can. Is this the City's fault or Siemen's ? If Siemen's, then it should be required to pay to the loss it has caused.

Anonymous said...

1:26, you are a prime example of someone spouting off when knowing only a percentage of the information - read one statistic without listening/reading the entire chapter.

For the next fiscal year, it is anticipated that the city will only collect 63% of the outstanding water/sewer bills. Continue on - BECAUSE the city has provided a payment plan for those that didn't receive a bill for a number of months. And also a payment plan for those that did receive a bill but for whatever reason did not pay that bill. The first plan would be based on the number of months not billed being the length of the payment plan (i.e. didn't receive a bill for nine months, owe $1,000 for those nine months - you will be required to pay $111 <$1,000 divided by 9> plus your monthly usage each month. If you haven't paid your bill due to the city's policy of not cutting off delinquent bills you will be required to pay any past due amounts in 6 equal installments of the past due.

Because of this payment plan policy, the collection rate for the next fiscal year will be as projected; but by the following year all the past due accounts will have been collected (or the accounts disconnected) and the collection rate will be what's expected.

So, get past the one fact you focused on and read the rest of the story to find your answers. It makes life much more enjoyable because it gives you less to bitch about.

Anonymous said...

2:02 PM Thanks Mayor

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your pontification 2:02, but 1:26 was still right. This fiscal year the city will still only collect 63% of what is owed or only 45,000,000 of the 71,000,000 actually owed. Payment plans or not, the city will still get 26,000,000 less than owed just as was stated and as even you admitted in your post. But thanks for playing.

Anonymous said...

That is some awesome news. Get a raise when government is failing. Makes sense.

Not the Mayor, not even close said...

3:24, correct. But in the following fiscal year, the totals, the percentages, and all get back to being the normal 97.5%.

Rome wasn't built in a day; and when Rome (in this case, Jackson) spent a few years f**king itself up - with the stupid non-management of the water/sewer department - it aint getting fixed in one fiscal year. Might could have been, but they took too lax an approach to fixing the mess.

I don't disagree - idiotic to be in this mess. But at least it appears that the PW Director has a plan and a method to get out of it. If - big time if - the Mayor and City Council stay out of his way and allow him to implement it.

Anonymous said...

You cant make this up !!!!!
Purchased 40 police cars - Approx $1million +
No money from the Govt Yet - Zip - On The
Hook Again $$$ - When will it come ?
He Says - We want Jax to stand Out
Would all the Dumb Asses Please raise
Their Hands” _ 100 % Must Stand
Standout Stupidity - Fire Their Asses
Not through Yet .... yep
Next - Go Cart & NASCAR Coming to South
Jackson - Who will Pay for it
It’s Coming - $ANTA CLAU$E -
Use The Zoo - Why Not “
Vvvrrrooom 🏎🚔🏎🚔🦓🐅🦏🐘🦍
🙈🙉🙊

Anonymous said...

It appears to be very illogical,inefficient and short sighted by the mayor and the city managers on how they prioritize the resurfacing of its streets. Two of the most important variables should be not only the condition of the street but also the traffic census of each street under consideration. There are many through affairs that have hundreds of cars traveling on them every day that are in drastic need. These include but are not limited to Old Canton Road from Duling to Meadowbrook and from Canton Mart to County Line Road, Northside Drive from I-55 to North State Street, Meadowbook from I-55 to Northview to name a few. The city should also take into account that the through affairs will have a much greater impact for business development. These busier streets should be at the top of the hierarchy of the expenditure of tax payer dollars. This makes much more sense the repaving a one block street or a dead end cul-de-sac.

Anonymous said...

I look on my home city with shame every night listening t the news, Our city streets are falling apart and the city buys new "fancy" police cars. We have daily water breaks in the system and the city wants to sponsor a NASCAR track. The city zoo is on it's last legs of existence and the question is not how to make it a success but how to put new paint on a building about to collapse. BTW how has the convention center panned out? Each day I can only shake my head in disgust and continue to look for a home outside "the bOLD (not)new City." Maybe it is time to call U S Grant and burn it down again.

BTW, why are we repaving some streets that are four-lane when there isn't enough traffic for two (Meadowbrook as a prime example, or Northside Dr from I-220 to Clinton line)? Those areas should be milled up and the outside lanes recycled as new pavement for the remaining two lanes.

Anonymous said...

@1016...HaHaHa! You must’ve just moved here?

Anonymous said...

If C-L reporting is correct Lumumba's proposed budget CUTS the JPD budget. He's already decimated the officer corps.

Anonymous said...

For 10:16 and others, the reason they are tackling neighborhood streets and not "thoroughfares" is that major streets like Meadowbrook and Northside with 4 to 5 lanes carry heavy traffic and should be rehabilitated, which is too expensive for the City without federal financial assistance thru MDOT, as opposed to local streets with low traffic that can be patched and overlaid. Local funds, in this case from the county, should cover those neighborhood streets.

Anonymous said...

Thank you 7:58 am for saving me time. You are correct.

Also, thanks to 2:02 pm. It's obvious from the comments after 2:02 pm that people comment , not only after not reading the article, but don't even read prior comments.

If someone decides to stay ignorant, it's because they are lazy or stupid.

As for me, I have seen a huge change for the better in dealing with the water/sewer folks. This administration deserves a lot of credit. This was a difficult task and a mess when Lumumba came on board . Not only is the efficiency and access to accurate information improved, but those serving the customers are clearly better trained, pleasant and thus helpful in addressing concerns. We were able, fortunately to pay the " big bill" but understand that others may not be as fortunate. I now have a credit as progress is has been made getting the data into the new system. My bills are now consistence with my long usage history.



Anonymous said...

Yeah, right... the folks that owe $26mil will payback over time... They'll be lucky to get 10-25% of that.

Anonymous said...

Don’t you love it when people don’t get a bill for 3-4 years finally get one for 4-5k, and start screaming “this can’t be right... i’m not paying this”? Typical!!!!! News flash pilfer - many of us were unlucky and got bills all along, and I’ve paid well over that amount. Do you part and pay your entire bill. Yeah right...forgot, we’re in Jackson. Those bills will be eventually forgiven. I can already see the headline: “Amnesty period for those who have outstanding bills”. Typical Jackson socialist BS!

Anonymous said...

I got the new meter in July 2-3 years ago, whenever it was. I was then estimated billed through about February of the following year. I then was billed, in February, for all usage from July until then (because they read the meter and charged me from 0 usage, though I had been being charged based on an estimate).

So, I was charged a huge sum PLUS was charged and overage fee. They then started estimating again, so I was paying higher charges based on a false estimate AND paying overage fees.

Anonymous said...

@5:49 if they aren't going to prosecute the 3000+ straight pipers discovered stealing water during the meter conversion there is no way they are going collect on those bills. Should BabyChok find the resolve to get tough on bill collection it will only be for select overdue cases in the white neighborhoods.

Anonymous said...

Is the Mayor seriously proposing to reduce the funding to maintenance of infrastructure?



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In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

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This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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