The Village of Natchez has a General Fund budget. The alderman unanimously approved Ordinance 011-2024, the Proposed Budget for 2024-2025 with amendments during its regular meeting on Thursday Nov. 7. Final budget is $199,540 in revenues and $186.220 in expenses.
Amendments the alderman gave its nod to put $26,680 from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds into the Police Department. Also put in to the Police Department was $25,000 for the purchase of a new vehicle for chief. Dollars for the vehicle is expected to come from a grant. Additionally, the aldermen are expecting the Police Department to take in $$40,000 of revenue in citations. The police chief indicated he would use the ARPA funds to rehire a part time deputy and the associated expenses with it. The Village now has $33,729 remaining in ARPA funds. As recommended by the village’s CPA, the ARPA funds are going into the General Fund, as opposed it a separate fund.
Mayor Patsy Ward Hoover has been urging the aldermen to pass the budget for several months, as the fiscal year is June to May. During last week’s meeting, the Village’s Certified Public Account Steven McKay of Rozier, McKay, and Willis, in Alexandria told the aldermen the Village had no money after Nov. 7 if they didn’t pass the budget.