MERIDIAN —     In economic conditions that include lower sales tax revenues and declining property values, the Meridian City Council is questioning whether the time is right for a proposed 2 percent across-the-board pay raise for city employees.

    What apparently isn't on the table is a city tax increase.

    The council has been conducting budget work sessions this week and meeting with department heads to determine if their budgets, proposed by the mayor and finance staff, are viable.

    "You are not going to see a tax increase this year," said Councilman George Thomas, who is also council president. "I think in the future you are going to see a tax increase. We cannot continue to go with no tax increase and a reduction in sales tax over the last four or five years, with expenses in the city continuing to go up, there's only one way for the city of Meridian to get money and that's property tax. We do get sales tax but it's not back to where it was five years ago."

    Thomas was cautiously optimistic about the possibility of pay raises for city employees.

    "There's a possibility that they will get some type of salary increase," Thomas said. "I'm not sure what it will be at this point. It's proposed in the budget that the administration gave us that there will be a 2 percent across-the-board increase. There's a possibility of a salary increase. I'm not sure it's 2 percent."

    The proposed overall general fund budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1, is $33,950,000 according to Ed Skipper, finance director. That





proposed budget includes the 2 percent pay raise.

    The budget is basically flat from last year, Skipper said, with only $50,000 in additional funds.

    The city has to increase its retirement contribution to employees, since that price is set by the state. The Public Employees Retirement System contribution will increase from 12.3 percent to 14.26 percent, which is an increase of 1.33 percent.

    Newly sworn in Police Chief James Reed was among department heads who spoke with councilmen on Wednesday.

    Thomas noted that the police department's budget was up by about $300,000.

    Skipper said that a significant amount of that is related to the city's jail contract. Renovations are under way at the former Cowboy Maloney building on 23rd Avenue where developer David Watkins is turning the building into a police station that the city will lease for 20 years.

    "The jail is the big number there," Skipper said, adding that the proposed pay increase also contributed to the higher number.

    Thomas asked Reed to check into whether the city could save money on housing inmates by using electronic monitoring ankle bracelets on nonviolent offenders. Reed agreed to look into it, but mentioned if they use the bracelets, someone will have to be hired to monitor their use.

    While this did not necessarily affect the budget, Thomas asked if Reed was going to steer the police department back into highway intervention.

    "We are," Reed said.

    The down side of highway intervention methods, Thomas said, is that the city could get a reputation to tourists as a speed trap. On the other hand, highway intervention would likely net drug arrests since the city lies along Interstate 20, which runs from South Carolina to Texas.

    Councilman Bobby Smith expressed concerns about the Drug Task Force that the city and county partnered in. Smith said in his experience, it did not work, but he wants Reed to check with the county about the task force. Reed said he and Sheriff Billy Sollie had briefly talked about it, but he wants to speak at more length with Sollie about the partnership.

    Also, Thomas asked Reed if he could hire more clerical staff to do paperwork at the police department to free officers from desk work and put them back on the streets.

    "People would feel more secure," Thomas said.

    Reed said he would look into it.

    Thomas also suggested buying computers for patrol cars so officers could do some of the computer work from the field. Council members emphasized to Reed that they wanted to make sure he had all the equipment necessary to provide good service to the city.

    That was also the message they had for Fire Chief Anthony Clayton, who brought requests to the council. He said he had needs, wants and "gotta-haves." His proposed budget is up by approximately $169,000. Skipper attributed that mostly to the proposed pay increase.

    Clayton laid out his gotta-haves as a training officer who is a certified firefighter, four new air packs, and a new fire truck. He had originally asked for eight new air packs, but said he was willing to compromise if he could get four. The proposed budget includes funds for four.

    As for the new fire truck, he said engines No. 2 and No. 5 are "out." Although there is a possibility of refurbishing one of the engines, Clayton does not recommend that. Thomas agreed, saying the cost of refurbishing a truck, which would be about $240,000, would be better spent on a new fire engine, which will cost approximately $600,000. If purchased, it would be paid for over a five-year period.

    Smith brought up the issue of the Fire Station 2 on Grand Avenue, which is the city's oldest fire station and was built in the days of horse-drawn fire wagons.

    "We need to force the issue and do away with that fire station," Smith said. He and Clayton discussed possible locations for a new station, but Clayton asked if the issue could be postponed another year. The city is currently building a new fire station on Highway 39 North that will serve the needs of annexed residents to the north.

    Clayton said that some improvements have been made to Station 2 by fire personnel, but agreed that a new station is needed.

    The Public Works Department will be operating with $200,000 less in its budget if the proposed budget is approved.

    Public Works Director Monty Jackson said part of the reduction is due to people leaving or retiring and others being hired to work at a lower rate. Public Works has several vacancies open.

    "Maybe the reason you've got that many vacancies is a problem with the salaries, not high enough pay," Thomas said.

    Jackson agreed that could be part of the problem.

    "Most of the slots that are empty are being filled by temporary people," Jackson said.