Byram City approves budget amendment, delays $12,000 landscaping spending

Byram City Council voted to adopt a budget amendment that adjusts multiple line items from the prior fiscal year and rolls over unspent funds, and it separately approved a modest pay increase for the city receptionist.

City staff summarized the amendment, noting the Merrill Health Council grant was increased to $6,000 from $5,000 and that $1,717.41 of unspent revenue rolled into the Mayoral Health Council line. Staff also reported a $95 line showing on the proposed soccer-league fee as the city received limited revenue before the soccer association assumed management; audit professional fees were reallocated to pay for three audit years; postage and office-supplies lines were increased to reflect actual expenditures; and unspent grant proceeds were rolled into streets-beautification and traffic-signal projects.

Staff described a proposed $12,000 line for landscaping work contracted to a company in Georgetown, Mississippi; one councilmember urged the board to seek a vendor that would include ongoing maintenance. Council moved to hold back $1,200 of that allocation pending follow-up; "We're not gonna spend the money till we work that out," the mayor said.

The council also approved a small pay raise for receptionist Sheila after members agreed her job duties have grown. The receptionist pay-raise motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

The budget amendment as amended and the personnel change were approved on motions recorded in the meeting; staff will implement the approved line-item changes and return any additional vendor details if required.