Gray said revenue from proposed projects, such as the Magnolia Bluffs Casino on Roth Hill Road could lead to employee raises in the future.

But Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis pointed out that the money isn’t here.

“We think we have people coming to the city but so far they’re not here yet,” she said.

Mathis said she considers the city’s tax base as a whole when looking at employee pay.

“It goes back to the budget and the money we have lost in the past with plants closing like International Paper (Company),” she said.

Alderman Bob Pollard said, though, he believed the salary was fair for the new chief given the tough economy.

“We just don’t have the money right now,” he said. “I think in a year or so you’ll see a lot of change in Natchez with more industry and hopefully we can give raises. Right now it’s just not there.”

But Alderman Mark Fortenbery said he was willing to consider a raise — if the chief did his part cutting expenses in the department so money could be redirected to salaries.

“If you can make the cuts, I would love to give it back to the chief and officers,” he said. “They’re definitely not getting paid enough right now.”

Mayor Jake Middleton said the salary is ultimately up to the board, but he said, in his opinion, he believes the salary will be between $52,300-$55,000.

One factor that must be considered, Fields said, is the addition of a salary for a new city department head — IT director, who the city anticipates hiring soon.

Middleton said the proposed salary range for the director is $45,000 to $55,000.

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The city is currently in the final phase of the interview process for a new police chief.

The Civil Service Commission interviewed chief candidates and handed over its three recommendations to Middleton earlier this month. The aldermen will interview the remaining candidates and then hire a new chief.

Middleton said he hopes to have a chief hired by the end of February.

He said the aldermen will begin the interviews once they complete the hiring process for the IT director.

Interim Chief Danny White has been heading the department since Mullins left and is one of the last three remaining candidates for chief.

White said he is not concerned with what his salary would be if he were appointed chief.

“My main concern is my patrolman and their salary,” he said. “Right now it’s not about me.”

White said increased salaries for patrol officers would mean lowering the high turnover rate that has plagued the department.

“If we could get their salary up, then we wouldn’t have them leaving us,” he said. “If you have satisfied patrolman, they will stay and there will be better job performance, which means better men out on the street.”