NATCHEZ &045; The almost $500,000 in proposed budget cuts for public safety for fiscal 2003-2004 is not as ominous as it sounds, according to City Clerk Donnie Holloway and Police Chief Mike Mullins.

Mullins said his department has simply not replaced some retiring civilian &045; non-patrol &045; personnel and has shuffled others around within the department rather than eliminating patrol positions.

&uot;We’re not affecting services,&uot; Mullins said. &uot;But, as an example, we’ve got 10 jailers instead of 11 and 10 (employees) in dispatch instead of 11.&uot;

Still, the cuts are substantial based on the latest numbers.

When compared with the budget actually passed by aldermen for fiscal 2002-2003, the proposed budget for fiscal 2003-2004 shows $485,423 in cuts for public safety, which includes police and fire.

Holloway would not release the city’s preliminary budget, saying the numbers will be revised before the Board of Aldermen meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday to approve the budget.

He would say the police department has managed to cut out more than $26,000 in personnel costs, including $11,000 of overtime, and more than $13,000 by not lease-purchasing new vehicles.

&uot;We’ve also cut out (new) uniforms and other supplies,&uot; Mullins said.

In addition, $19,000 was saved in Municipal Court, much of that through reduced salaries, and $6,000 was saved in emergency dispatch, according to Holloway.

Many cuts have already been made during this fiscal year as funds have gotten tighter due to economic woes. &uot;We’re 8.1 percent, or about $200,000, less than we were at the start of the year,&uot; Mullins said.

As far as the Fire Department is concerned, &uot;every department has taken cuts, and they’re no exception,&uot; Holloway said. &uot;They’ve cut travel and training, operating supplies and overtime, Š but they’re only one firefighter short.&uot;

Other budget categories that would be down substantially during the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1, based on preliminary figures, include economic development, down $245,746, and health and welfare, down $176,994.

But economic development, as a budget category, means funds received from state agencies to support the Guardian Shelter and to renovate the Sunshine Shelter, two area nonprofits.

And with renovation of the Sunshine Shelter finished and the money spent, the fund decreased to just $247,200, mostly for the Guardian Shelter.

The health and welfare fund contained funds for housing rehabilitation, monies that were almost completely spent last year, leaving just $10,000.

Other cuts include:

4$1,122,332 in capital projects, due to the completion of some major projects.

Those included much of the Government Fleet Road improvements, removal of some railroad tracks, the Roth Hill stabilization project and some Natural Resource Conservation Service projects.

4$85,513 in public works, mostly due to personnel positions that are not being filled at this time, according to Holloway.

4$82,916 in culture and recreation. That is mostly due to roof repairs to the Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center, which were done this fiscal year and were included in that category.

4$22,617 in general government, which includes the mayor’s and city clerk’s offices and, Holloway said, has cut such things as travel.

The city’s debt service would increase by $221,760.