What goes into raising taxes?

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The fiscal year is coming to a close, and next year’s budgets are coming together.

Many cities are looking to the future and how to pay for it.

“Most everyone has tried to live as conservative as they could for many years. After a while, that catches up, and so at some point, something has to give, and the fact you got to have the finances to make sure that you take care of your basic needs, whether it’s about life, safety, or infrastructure,” said Mayor Will Hill.

Mayor Will Hill knows raising taxes can be unpopular, but it’s often necessary.

“One thing that all citizens need to realize on any level is the importance of having vibrant communities that not only you have solid infrastructure and safety is, it’s the cycle of having quality health care, quality education, or else we do not have a future to look forward to. Our future will end up leaving if we do not make sustainable communities,” said Mayor Hill.

Mayor Hill said while every city and town is different, they all have the same struggles.

“your heavy expenditure is typically going to be your personnel providing the services needed and expected. And then the other one is the big topic infrastructure, roadways. I mean, we’re not even in most cases, cities, and towns not able to address sidewalks, things like that, because what’s most important is just being able to drive to work, to school, and take care of those things,” said Mayor Hill.

He said it’s also important for people to understand where their money is going.

“Local government is where the rubber meets the road. It’s your quickest access to government. It’s where your services are met and realize the importance of it. And look into what is how your tax dollars are being used. Whether they’re your local property taxes, your sales tax, or whether it’s that own state and federal level, understand tax and not look at the broad sense,” said Mayor Hill.

Mayor Hill said it’s important to shop local because then you are feeding into the sales tax base which can help sustain a community and keep other taxes from increasing.