Craftily advertising a public hearing for the 2018-2019 budget year on Aug. 31 and Sept. 4, the city, knowing that many would be out of town for the long Labor Day weekend, noticed the obligatory public hearing electronically Friday, Sept. 7, at 3 p.m., for a 5:15 p.m. meeting.

Predictably, very few members of the general public were in attendance. I counted five, plus a few others employed by the city. A friend who worked in the local trenches says this type of city foolishness has been going on for over 30 years. Recently, the city installed soundproofing material to protect their illicit assemblies. 

Last Friday, we went to City Hall immediately upon receipt of the notice to request a copy of the draft budget. We were flatly denied. We were told no copies were available until the meeting began at 5:15 p.m. Public hearings on budgets are statutorily required.

A second hearing is now set for 11 a.m. on today, when most taxpayers are at work, trying to generate the income needed to pay ever-increasing city ad valorem taxes. While I am a voracious reader, I cannot read, digest and formulate precise budget questions from a single-spaced 18 page draft budget printed on 11 by 17 paper with at least 11 columns per page handed out only at the starting bell for a public hearing. It is even more daunting when entire columns and formulas appear to be missing from the draft.  

Citizens, these officials have no respect for you nor want any meaningful public discourse. The arrogant, duplicitous behavior of this gang continues and is aimed at as little public interaction as possible. This is a whole body, metastasized cancer that must be stopped and removed to give this area a chance to survive. We need to move forward with dissolution of the city government. 

Here are the basic points you need to know about the forthcoming budget so you can submit your written questions to city officials or raise them at the Tuesday morning’s meeting. We have copies of the draft budget at my office, which can be picked up starting at 8:30 a.m. We will also email copies to those who request copies.  

Essentially, the city proposes a 2018-2019 budget of $15.6 million. On the revenue side, the proposed budget is still going up, despite the loss of 500-plus residents since the current gang took office in July 2016. The budget has increased over $1M from actual revenue in 2017, (coming in part from) the large increase in garbage collection fees recently mishandled of $210,000. Sales taxes are down by about $150,000. Municipal court collections are down by about $120,000.

Several columns would be required to address the expense side of this proposed budget. First, we need to reexamine the proper role of local government, if any, in worthwhile community affairs that affect our hearts, consciences and philanthropy, but have nothing to do with daily, necessary government operations. Tourism-related nonprofits continue to appear as budget line items.

These nonprofits should be applying to the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission for help. The city should cut the NCPC loose to run all tourism business and manage all of its money independently, like Natchez Water Works and Natchez Housing Authority.

There is a $400,000 donation/private source for something called “Reach &Transitions (James’ Projects).” The “Parchman Ordeal” monument has now been renamed “Proud to Take a Stand Donation/Monument” and is budgeted for $139,000. This project should be funded by private sector fundraising and NCPC consideration designed to attract tourists. Monuments are not essential to daily operations of the City that take and use taxpayer money.

Separate budgets are set out for the senior citizen center and Duncan Park. Like tourism, these recreation programs should all be consolidated under recreation commission programs. Natchez Convention Center contract services are simply staggering. We have no audit. Mississippi counsel has been asked for a legal opinion of whether the unwritten, handshake arrangement is lawful, or a taxpayer suit is in order. The convention center balloon payment of almost $2 million looms.

Taxpayer funded, subsidized (TIF) financing benefits not you, but benefits the private owners of the Natchez Grand and Holiday Inn. We have repeatedly asked for tourism numbers and analysis and there has apparently been no local attempt to vet numbers supplied by the state of Mississippi. Finally, as usual, the budget is loaded up with consulting services and contracts, which again calls into question the fundamental competencies of city leaders and begs the question of who, if anyone at the city, is analyzing any of the daily work, and who is to do the work. 

Paul Benoist is a Natchez resident.