Madison’s Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler has prioritized the safety of her city by placing an emphasis on the police department in the 2022 fiscal year budget.
The police department makes up the largest part of the general fund budget at $10,602,318. This is an increase of 8.6 percent from the previous budget year.
“The majority of the budget goes to law enforcement,” the mayor said. “We are Mississippi’s safest city, and we strive to continue to protect our citizens by having high visibility in the police department and the best equipment that is available to our officers and first responders.”
Madison Chief of Police Gene Waldrop said he believes his department has received a good working budget.
“This year’s approved budget will allow the department to continue servicing the community with a professional product,” Waldrop said. “We strive to give our citizens the protection, service and sense of security to enjoy what the city has to offer their families.”
He said the city government works with the department and the community in order to create a safe and informed community for everyone and this budget from the government will allow that to continue.
There was an increase in the amount budgeted for personnel at the police department but Waldrop said no positions were added. The 82 sworn positions received a three percent increase which accounted for the larger budgeted amount. This will allow the department to be more competitive in the law enforcement field when recruiting officers. The department was also able to replace a few vehicles in the 2022 budget.
“We will give the community the best product we can as first responders,” Waldrop said. “Giving the community a safe environment to raise a family, come to work, and retire to is our first priority and our job.”
Madison residents will continue to see the current tax millage remain the same in the 2022 fiscal year. Hawkins Butler said the last time the city of Madison changed the city millage was a reduction of the millage, and it has remained the same for over 20 years.
Additionally, residents can expect to see city streets addressed in overlay projects soon. The mayor and board of aldermen approved capital improvement projects that will amount to $13,808,633 with the projects funded by federal and state grants and some American Rescue Plan Act funds. Hawkins said the projects will be named shortly.
City employees will see an increase in their paychecks this month. Hawkins said city employees received an average increase of three percent again this year.
“Not many cities have an increase every year but ours has been consistent for many years,” Hawkins said.
