Biloxi council deadlocks on motion to advertise 3‑mill property tax increase

The Biloxi City Council failed to authorize the mayor to advertise a proposed three‑mill property tax increase intended to raise roughly $2 million to narrow a projected gap between revenues and expenses. The motion to publish notice of the potential increase, moved by Mr. Tisdale and seconded by Mr. Gray, ended in a 3‑3‑1 vote and did not pass.

The proposed increase would have raised the city’s millage from about 30.1 mills to roughly 33.1 mills, a change the mayor said would “generate about $2,000,000” in additional revenue. The mayor told council members the city typically plans to keep revenues and expenses close rather than draw down reserves.

The nut of the meeting was whether to ask voters, by advertising a proposed millage, to accept a short‑term revenue increase to cover operating expenses — mainly wages and benefits — or to rely on fund balance and deeper departmental cuts. Diana, the city finance official, told the council the…