Finance committee discusses 2017 budget

J.D. BAILEY

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The Magnolia City Council Finance Committee met Thursday morning at city hall to discuss a balanced budget proposal for 2017. The department heads of each city service submitted their budgets and discussed the details with the council members.

The Magnolia Street Department’s proposed budget included a five percent salary increase for all their hourly workers. The budget also included $20,000 going toward the payment of their new tractor. Any surplus in the equipment budget for next year can also be used to pay off the tractor loan. As Mayor Parnell Vann said, “At the end of the year, if we’ve had a good year, we can just use the rest of that money for the tractor.”

The Magnolia Police Department’s requested budget included a five percent salary increase and equipment upgrades including a new Dodge Ram, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Durango. The Durango will be used as a rolling crime lab, the Charger a K-9 unit, and the Ram a patrol vehicle. Also, according to the MPD, the larger police unit fleet for 2016 is actually helping maintenance costs because the same automobiles are no longer running around the clock. Other requested equipment included body cameras, in-car cameras, officer tasers, radar units, and rescue tourniquets used to help save an injured officer’s life.

The Magnolia Fire Department proposed a budget that included five percent raises for firefighters and a new Dodge Ram and winch for Fire Chief Greg Pinner. The winch will be used to aid in fire and rescue efforts. Fire training, uniform, and personal equipment expenses were also listed.

Magnolia Utilities, Magnolia City Cemetery, Magnolia Parks, Magnolia Airport, Magnolia’s general fund and other local departments also submitted balanced budget proposals. The city’s ongoing legal battle with Columbia County over solid waste management tax revenue was also briefly touched upon by the mayor. He told the council that he hopes the two parties can reach a settlement and the case can be resolved quickly, possibly by early next year.

Finally, near the meeting’s end, local economic and development issues were discussed. The committee members considered how the city can grow and how locals can help. Vann added, “If the 18 to 62 working class Magnolian doesn’t get up off their keister, and get involved in economic development, we’re going to die. We’ve got to do something.”

The 2017 proposed budget will be further discussed for approval at the next Magnolia City Council meeting on Dec. 27.

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