The Biloxi City Council is expected to set the millage levy – in short, no tax increase – and approve the FY ’07 municipal budget during a meeting on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall.
The agenda for the meeting and available resolutions will be posted on the city web site Friday.
The city’s $149 million budget includes $18.4 million in funding for Biloxi public schools, more than $12 million in capital projects, a 5 percent increase for city employees, and restores funding for a number of special events and non-profit agencies.
The budget, which would take effect Oct. 1, also projects a $9.7 million loss in property tax revenue – from $34 million in the current budget to $24.3 million, reflecting the massive property destruction of Hurricane Katrina.
Mayor A.J. Holloway is scheduled to discuss the budget and status of the Reviving the Renaissance initiative during an appearance Friday at 11 a.m. on WLOX-TV’s “Midday” program.
Debris limited at Popp’s Ferry FEMA site
City of Biloxi debris czar Jonathan Kiser is reminding residents that the temporary FEMA debris site at Popp’s Ferry Road is limited to debris gathered from Biloxi residences that were flooded by the Katrina storm surge.
The city had announced Aug. 2 that property owners outside the storm surge area faced an Aug. 15 FEMA deadline to move their storm debris to the public right of way.
With the passing of the deadline, those property owners can transport any storm debris to the nearest site, Coastal Recycle site, at 14339 Hudson Krohn Road, just north of the city limits and south of the BFI transfer center. The site is on the west side of the road and is operated by C.N. Williams 228-392-0690. Pick up load is $10, single axle trailer is $15 or $4 per cubic yard for other methods of delivery.
Those residents who live within the storm surge areas in Biloxi must show proof of residency, such as a driver’s license, when hauling debris to the Popp’s Ferry Road FEMA site. No contractor debris is allowed at the site either.
To see the storm surge area of Biloxi, click here.
Updated anniversary photos now online
A host of photographs from the city’s Katrina & Biloxi anniversary on Aug. 28 – showing scenes from the John Henry Beck playground rebuild, the Town Green observance and the Heroes Helping Heroes ceremony at the Saenger – are now online in a newly updated online photo gallery. To go there, click here.
Biloxi Natatorium holds fall swim lesson registration
On Friday, September 8, the Biloxi Natatorium will begin fall swim lesson registration for Biloxi residents from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, September 9, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for Biloxi and non-Biloxi residents.
The cost for the two-week session is $30 for each Biloxi resident and $40 for each non-Biloxi resident. Registration will continue Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Natatorium, 1384 Father Ryan Avenue.
The fall session will consist of three types of classes for different ages:
— Level I & II – beginner classes for children ages 4 and up
— Level III & IV – intermediate classes for children
— Adult classes – for adult of all ages
Each class is held Monday through Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. for two weeks and each is held for 45 minutes each day.
Classes are taught by certificated American Red Cross instructors.
For more information, call the Biloxi Natatorium at 228-435-6205 or e-mail aquatics@biloxi.ms.us.
Also now updated online
New forms: A host of updated and easier-to-use forms for the Communjity Dvelopment Department has been posted in the Forms/Permits section of the city web site. To see the lineup of online forms and permits, click here.
Gaming revenue: The city’s Finance Division has released the latest report on gaming revenue collections. The report, along with the city’s true-month month gaming grosses, is in the Gaming Revenue section, which you can see by clicking here.
