Jackson City Council adopts FY25-26 municipal budget after amendments on pay, public works and public safety

The Jackson City Council on Sept. 10 approved the city's fiscal year 2025'2026 municipal budget after a lengthy review and a series of amendments that added staff pay raises, new funding for public-works equipment and contingency funds for public safety.

Council members debated multiple line items and amendments over more than two hours before adopting the budget as amended. The council added a targeted pay-raise plan for lower-paid employees, approved a $1.5 million allocation for street-cleanup and blight-control equipment (in addition to already-budgeted equipment), and approved conditional allocations for police and fire to be released after the city's audit and a firm fund-balance report.

Why it matters: The budget sets Jackson City's priorities for the coming year, including operations, public works, and public-safety commitments, and several council amendments are intended to address long-standing infrastructure and staffing concerns.

Council action and key amendments

- Pay raises: Councilman Stokes moved an amendment asking the administration to begin pay raises for city employees, with a tiered approach (higher percentage for lower-paid employees). "We must give these employees a pay raise," Councilman Stokes said. The council voted in favor of the amendment (recorded vote: 7-0). The council left amount specifics to the administration's discretion and asked finance to return a memo with cost estimates.

- Public works equipment / blight control:…