Columbus budget: Not many extras, but no new taxes

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The City of Columbus has its budget in place for the next fiscal year, and they did it without having to raise taxes.

The City Council approved the spending plan Tuesday at a special call meeting.

There aren’t many frills, but there are some pay raises for city employees.

There is also $500,000 for operational costs for the Terry Brown Amphitheater, which Mayor Stephen Jones hopes to have open and welcoming acts in 2027.

Crafting budgets is always a balancing act, and the Mayor thinks this year they managed it well.

“Doing a budget and trying not to raise taxes, you know, sometimes it’s hard. It’s always more needs than money, and you just have to try to do the right thing with the taxpayers’ dollars, and hopefully, that’s what we’re doing.”

Now, with the budget out of the way, Jones says it’s time to look forward to the business at hand for next year.