Aldermen will later consider and approve pay raises they’ve discussed for themselves, the mayor and other city employees for the fiscal year that starts in October.
Only about $6 million of the total $45 million budget is from property taxes imposed on Natchez residents and businesses, according to the financial details provided by city officials. The rest is from federal and state grants along with other revenue sources for the city.
The budget also includes about $13 million left over from the fiscal year that’s nearing its end Sept. 30. The newly adopted budget is essentially the same amount of money that was set for the past year.
The board is planning to further discuss pay raises when it meets again Sept. 24.
Mayor Dan Gibson – who began his first term in 2020 with a $68,000 annual salary – said his new salary, if approved, would rise to around what other mayors make in similar-sized towns in the region.
For Natchez aldermen, Gibson said their annual $22,300 salaries could be increased by eight percent. It’s been many years since their pay was raised, according to the mayor.
Gibson and the six aldermen began their new term in July.
They’ve discussed pay raises for various city administrators in sessions closed to the public as job performances and other factors were assessed in determining if higher salaries are justified.
In addition, about $150,000 is being budgeted to raise wages for employees in the Natchez Public Works Department, which has been struggling to attract and retain workers because of low pay. This is afforded by cost-saving measures the city has realized in its garbage-disposal budget.
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