[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6148329,"mediaKeyId","5516679-095fe2d9c6134104a12e20950483fada","parentId",5516679,"title","Votes at a glance: Biloxi budget workshop — agenda approved; follow‑up meeting set; adjournment","audioSeconds",30,"startMs",4053000,"endMs",4083000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5516679-095fe2d9c6134104a12e20950483fada&start=4053&end=4083","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5516679-095fe2d9c6134104a12e20950483fada/thumbnail_4053000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6148329/Biloxi/Harrison-County/Mississippi/Votes-at-a-glance-Biloxi-budget-workshop-agenda-approved-followup-meeting-set-adjournment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6148329-b8f53381b6ce65d27c6cdf92dc2a71da/orig.mp4?Expires=1776232435&Signature=E~yES7dJsksethDmRjZwFTeTQ2FTkV6YTwwB8kSFQITR2uMIpJiCdV5TyqobKDDouB9pkyuY2g1z70K~WLwkyBpKRxKq4wn11P-x2lFp31fIIiZniZad9npbdgMe7CS9cNKuu5XQrbIaeCtCFvRxA0s~jNaq0BVPJEL--t9MnCJeXBl46FnIhRrRAU1JeGrzpAtjfy1BckRAnJhWdjPk3GknRXdYp3Sv89IS07Y0LTVCxXITNTFy0xCECIbBilPEXjhSyjQNcnmVDayQkeJyyYqwuDyDrPT0vlSGfAG3gxz5a~Gb3ng2pRaWr-TGHe9k2uTJ3FsHNYfNUR78-JPQzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Biloxi, MI","date","2025-07-29T00:00:00Z","article","Three formal motions were recorded during the budget workshop:

1) Approve agenda — Moved by Councilman Tisdale; second by Councilman Creel. Outcome: motion carries (no recorded nay votes). The motion occurred during the meeting call to order and was adopted by voice vote.

2) Schedule next budget meeting before 4:00 p.m. at the next regular meeting — Moved by Councilman Shoemaker; second by Councilman Gray. Outcome: motion carries (unanimous voice vote as recorded).

3) Adjourn — Moved by Councilman Creel; second by Councilman Tisdale. Outcome: motion carries (unanimous voice vote as recorded).

Each motion was recorded on the transcript as passing by voice vote; individual yes/no tallies were not recorded in the transcript text.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Special Called July 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During the Biloxi City Council FY25–26 budget workshop the council voted to approve the meeting agenda, scheduled a follow‑up budget session before 4:00 p.m. at the next regular meeting, and unanimously approved adjournment.","taxTitle","Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi","taxId",52209,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6148334,"Biloxi council reviews fire staffing, training improvements and rising apparatus costs in FY25–26 budget workshop",921,2839000,3760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5516679-095fe2d9c6134104a12e20950483fada&start=2839&end=3760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5516679-095fe2d9c6134104a12e20950483fada/thumbnail_2839000.jpg","/articles/6148334/Biloxi/Harrison-County/Mississippi/Biloxi-council-reviews-fire-staffing-training-improvements-and-rising-apparatus-costs-in-FY2526-budget-workshop","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6148334-38cbb57a2186e0240c87a1d98199693f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776232435&Signature=JWFNYckf5SNZhYpJpOVMKYCt2M9U2OlTTx5I1B7p9R2Q-CORWj~HZeiCOXZzWWjecr-TIhUcJ8Qp~c~HP3VvOPfC~sm~KJZ2sdHcrXnNq8o~R94z5jbWXLpW~kEp56hUCgJyWHmB83aPivPq5j7MGDDfgWgoqmyTLCr8bHFwfSbr-2mJU-10NRPyikKkCqqXDiD68S0Vxb3hL350FMzu-5msWa9G0XKzI9w3jZMOItT360iO34~dhPdIy60FmVDcYO~ptPVpv7Wbvok4tWU66KG6mqqbgWyLIBx8fCUhIGYC1rtWqEZ-Z5m2hlndFX52PDtDPsrgqB5U8RzVUSJYdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Biloxi City Council budget workshop on the proposed FY25–26 municipal budget, city and fire department leaders outlined staffing levels, a revamped training plan and growing equipment costs — including higher prices for new fire apparatus and maintenance challenges linked to diesel emissions controls.

The Fire Chief (name not specified in the transcript) described minimum daily staffing requirements and the department’s training pipeline, saying the department must staff 46 positions per shift as a minimum and that recent recruit classes increased shift rosters to roughly 50–51 personnel per shift. The chief said the department runs two recruit cycles per year and that full recruit preparation takes about 20 weeks, including hazmat awareness, basic firefighter training and an EMT‑basic program.

The chief and council discussed a proposed reorganization of training staff to add dedicated, weekday training officers so the department can run recruit classes and advanced in‑service training concurrently. The department requested space for training props and materials and proposed building or renovating a metal storage/training building to host dirty, hands‑on training while freeing classroom space for officer and instructor courses.

Capital costs and equipment reliability were highlighted. The council heard that the cost of new fire trucks has risen substantially in recent years (one council member cited a rise from about $570,000 to $970,000) and that replacing a ten‑year‑old pump engine cost about $55,000. Fire officials said modern diesel exhaust aftertreatment systems (regen and DEF requirements) are causing more engine failures for apparatus that sit or run short routes, making replacements and specialized repairs more expensive.

The department said overtime runs roughly $1 million and that outfit-and-training a new firefighter (including equipment and training time) costs on the order of $100,000. The department reported roughly ten fire stations across the city and said it maintains several non‑truck support vehicles (pickup trucks, boats) — about 15–20 additional units depending on counting methodology.

On federal grants, the chief explained the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant can pay salaries and training for new hires for several years; Biloxi has applied in recent cycles but was not awarded on recent submissions. The chief said the city coordinates grant applications with the city’s grant writer.

Why it matters: replacement apparatus, training capacity and staffing levels directly affect response capability and municipal capital planning. Emissions-related maintenance issues add recurring costs and complicate life‑cycle estimates for apparatus.

Looking ahead: fire leadership asked council to consider the training‑division reorganization, space needs for hands‑on training, and long‑term capital plans that could include multi‑year financing for high‑cost apparatus.","Fire department leaders told the Biloxi City Council that recruit training, apparatus replacements and emissions‑related engine failures are shaping capital and personnel needs; the department described a 20‑week recruit pipeline, staffing minimums and outreach on federal grant options.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6148339,"Biloxi council reviews police staffing shortfalls, vehicle and recruitment costs in FY25–26 budget talks",1827,740000,2567000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5516679-095fe2d9c6134104a12e20950483fada&start=740&end=2567","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5516679-095fe2d9c6134104a12e20950483fada/thumbnail_740000.jpg","/articles/6148339/Biloxi/Harrison-County/Mississippi/Biloxi-council-reviews-police-staffing-shortfalls-vehicle-and-recruitment-costs-in-FY2526-budget-talks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6148339-eac19ea71075dfb5ea8bb2ae3be8e25a/orig.mp4?Expires=1776232435&Signature=KWXz1F~dCxqVnvDRQm4lHd2eMZV0SHS4exWA1SBRf4iVhY-Mj0nQQv9sEUU8m6h3VPJxZ0cdQnJ9HiWzegS0wlKY05H93OxJaWzVOcJNelGbSSS~i5wottCf~~8dnaXOIOuyK~NbHnvp2qdy-AE4LfvsENhnEtm12Rey1xw8PJjx~AYNIDoPqR2b9ezMHKJA--5eJr~3Fpt7XOfg6YFV98Y2v9BbIHSZS7pI63DmiEf9sAQhJrE0wr4I9tbXIulWSPST9jhb1mJjBXsXMSGPzpPxE0FDHjc1vMk8i2RAKVsxv9Ng6bSy41B3fcTwZ~bXcIqUSjCsHnBYLPJ17MtFTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Biloxi City Council budget workshop to review the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 municipal budget, Police Chief Miller and council members focused on police staffing, vehicle replacement and recruitment strategies, saying the department remains below authorized strength and faces rising equipment and training costs.

Police Chief Miller said the department is prioritizing recruitment next year. “Our objectives in 2026, certainly a major push for recruitment,” Chief Miller said, adding that the city expects seven newly hired officers to start in the next three weeks but that academy and field training will delay their full deployment.

The chief and council members repeatedly cited a current sworn-strength figure of about 130 officers and an authorized complement of roughly 147 officers. Chief Miller described a longer-term staffing target of 170 officers, and a personal goal of 200 officers to cover the city’s daily population and major events. He said the department regularly relies on out‑of‑town officers for large events and overtime.

Council members and staff reviewed budget documents that propose adding positions in the police department, including non‑sworn roles. The draft budget shows an increase of 15 police positions (the document shows police headcount rising from about 216 positions to 231 when fully funded), and also proposes two “intel research specialists” and four booking officers to keep sworn officers on patrol. Councilman Marshall and others supported shifting some duties to non‑sworn personnel to reduce overtime.

Fleet and equipment needs were a recurring concern. Council questions and police responses indicated a fleet count of about 160 vehicles on the books, though not all are operational; roughly 140 vehicles are assigned and likely to be on the road daily. The chief and finance staff said the transportation/vehicle purchase line in the police budget is about $571,000. The department said typical replacement cycles for marked patrol units are about five years and that upfitting a new patrol vehicle can cost in the neighborhood of $80,000 depending on equipment and role.

Cost estimates discussed included an approximate $100,000 to outfit and train a new sworn officer (the chief said the state reimbursement offsets some academy costs) and roughly $800,000 in police overtime in the current year, a figure council members said could approach $1 million depending on year‑end events. Council members and finance staff explained that insurance and benefits increases are being budgeted based on current enrollment and that vacant positions in the budget also carry projected insurance costs.

Other, smaller items discussed in the police budget included adding a third animal control officer to extend weekday/weekend coverage, software and evidence-tracking upgrades (PadTracks and related systems) and building maintenance for patrol briefing and garage facilities. Laura Slater of the finance department answered technical budget questions about how insurance and positions were counted in the draft.

Why it matters: policing expenses — salaries, overtime, vehicles and training — form a large share of the municipal budget; choices about hiring, vehicle replacement cycles and adding non‑sworn staff will affect patrol coverage for residents and event policing costs.

Looking ahead: council members moved to continue budget work before the next regular meeting and signaled they will press staff for additional detail on vacancies, training pipelines and the vehicle‑replacement plan.","At a Biloxi City Council budget workshop on the FY25–26 municipal budget, police leaders outlined recruitment goals, current staffing gaps, vehicle needs and overtime pressures and council members discussed adding non‑sworn positions and equipment purchases to reduce overtime and improve patrol coverage.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Biloxi budget workshop — agenda approved; follow‑up meeting set; adjournment

Biloxi council reviews fire staffing, training improvements and rising apparatus costs in FY25–26 budget workshop

Biloxi council reviews police staffing shortfalls, vehicle and recruitment costs in FY25–26 budget talks