Biloxi City Council Budget Work Session: Parks and Recreation and Community Development – July 28, 2026
Biloxi City Council Budget Work Session: Parks and Recreation and Community Development – July 28, 2026
The Biloxi City Council held a budget work session on July 28, 2026, to review proposed fiscal year 2027 budgets for the Parks and Recreation and Community Development departments. The meeting featured detailed presentations on revenue shortfalls, proposed service cuts, and potential fee increases. Councilmembers expressed concerns over the closure of the Snyder Center pool, reductions in youth sports tournaments, and the need for balanced economic development. No final votes were taken on the budgets.
Parks and Recreation Budget Presentation
Parks and Recreation Director Jamie Lee presented a draft budget of $4.215 million, down from $4.9 million in the previous year. Key proposed changes included:
- Administration: reducing full-time positions from six to four by not filling a computer operator and executive secretary, saving approximately $107,000.
- Grass cutting: eliminating all contractual grass cutting at the causeway, Keysler Federal Park, and the visitor center, saving about $90,000.
- Beautification: reducing overtime from $35,000 to $8,000.
- Parks: cutting full-time positions from ten to seven and overtime from $37,000 to $15,000.
- Recreation: maintaining positions but reducing overtime from $15,000 to $10,000; free programs to be reduced or eliminated; summer playground likely eliminated after a small loss this year.
- Athletics: reducing youth sports supplies from $95,000 to $40,000; considering raising participant fees from $50 to $75 (still lowest in region); sports hall of fame banquet possibly every other year; limiting ball tournaments to two per month due to staffing.
- Snyder Center pool: expected to close within two weeks due to a lifeguard shortage (only five lifeguards for both the Snyder pool and the natatorium). The pool costs $160,000 annually to operate, including two lifeguards and utilities.
- Aquatics division: reducing permanent positions from 14 (8 full-time, 6 part-time) to 6 full-time. Lifeguard starting pay is $15/hour; nationwide shortage cited.
- Visitor center (taking over in October): proposed reduced hours (Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat 9-2, closed Sun/holidays); current operating cost estimated at over $600,000 with $110,000 in rental revenue.
Council Discussion on Parks and Recreation
Councilmembers questioned the proposed cuts, particularly the reduction in ball tournaments. Councilman Gray argued tournaments are revenue-generating and should be expanded, not cut. Councilman Glavin proposed offsetting uniform costs ($60,000) through increased fees and suggested putting back $40,000 for scoreboard technology and temporary fencing. Councilman Gray also expressed surprise about the pool closure, noting that only three council members had been briefed. Councilman Tisdale explained the lifeguard shortage is a long-standing issue and the decision to close was driven by resignations.
Councilman Gray advocated for raising fees for non-residents and increasing annual passes (currently $60 for seniors). Councilman Creel criticized the city’s failure to raise fees and taxes gradually, arguing that the city now appears “broke.” He questioned why revenue-generating opportunities had not been pursued earlier.
Councilman Marshall asked about costs at Hiller Park and the need for in-house maintenance. Councilman Glavin raised the possibility of having the Biloxi school board fund lifeguards for school-related swim meets, but noted the interlocal agreement does not require that.
Community Development Budget Presentation
Community Development Director Jerry Creel presented a proposed budget of $2.49 million, a reduction of $1.3 million from the 2026 budget of $3.8 million. After deducting salaries and benefits (close to $2 million), only $547,368 remains for supplies and services. Mandatory items (fuel, tree mitigation, electricity, etc.) total $378,594, leaving just $168,774 for the year. Key reductions:
- Back Bay Mission funding cut from $50,000 to $25,000.
- Repairs to the old brick house (estimated $200,000) postponed.
- Land clearance reduced from $90,000 to $75,000.
- Two positions left unfunded (planning tech and code enforcement officer).
Creel noted positive economic news: construction permits for new construction are $10 million ahead of last year; sales tax revenues have topped $1 million for 63 consecutive months; gaming revenues were $6 million higher than June of the prior year.
Council Discussion on Community Development
Councilman Gray emphasized that new residential developments cost the city in services (streets, police, parks) and that ad valorem taxes alone ($14 million) cannot sustain growth. He argued the city needs a better mix of development (commercial, hotels) rather than relying solely on subdivisions. Councilman Glavin asked about sidewalk requirements in new developments; Creel confirmed they are required by ordinance except in certain topographical situations.
Councilman Creel asked about code enforcement land clearance spending and collections from late taxes; Creel noted $260,000 in late tax payments received in June but could not yet allocate to specific parcels due to lack of breakdowns.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes taken on the budgets; the meeting was informational.
- Council agreed to consider additional revenue options, including increasing fees for recreational facilities and pool memberships, implementing an occupancy tax, and raising ad valorem taxes (previously failed 3-4).
- A motion to accept the agenda passed 6-0 (Councilman Marshall absent).
- The next budget work session is scheduled for August 4, 2026 (engineering, public works, water and sewer). Councilman Tisdale requested an additional meeting on August 6 or 13 to review the entire budget line by line.
- Adjourned without further action.
Meeting Transcript
Which one? Oh, parks. We can't we can't start without the clerk. Can't start the party till she gets here. All right. John, you ready? All right, good deal. All right. I need uh motion to accept the agenda. So moved. Second by Mr. Creel. Second by Mr. Glavin. Any discussion? None. All in favor. It's approved on the 6-0 vote. If you the clerk would note, Mr. Marshall's out of the room. Okay. I don't know if you had a comment we'll do is have uh parks and rec and then it'll be followed by community development. Okay, Doug. Uh Mr. Lee, you're on. Uh you may want to make a statement or two. You may want to just go to questions, whatever is your preference. Right. Thank you, sir. Um, I'll go ahead and just kind of give an overview of what we're looking at. Of course, you know, this is our draft budget based it based upon the current projected revenues of what we're doing and where we are at. You see, we're looking at a total budget for this fiscal year of 4.215. Um, four sets down from 4.9 in the previous year. So uh for those that aren't aware, we will be taking over a new facility as well. Um not a new facility, but a new facility in our department. The visitor center will fall under parks and recreation beginning in October. Just kind of falls more in line with the way our department set up and runs. Um so that'll happen in October. So based upon where we're at right now, these are the things that we are looking at doing to help get us to the number we need to be at. Um in the administration section, we're looking at um moving from six full-time to four full time, not filling a computer operator or an executive secretary position positions. Um that's gonna save about 107,000. Um, we're looking at removing all the contractual grass cutting. Um currently our sites of grass cutting our contracted grass cutting is at the causeway beyond the gate. Keysler Federal Park. Um as well as the visitor center. And that totals about $90,000 a year for that contractual grass cutting. Could you could you give us an uh account number so we can follow along or a line item number if you will? I'm sorry. That's how the contract is. Well, uh 6645.
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