Biloxi City Council Budget Hearing – August 19, 2026

The Biloxi City Council held a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, receiving testimony from numerous non‑departmental agencies and organizations seeking continued or increased funding. The meeting began shortly after 1:30 p.m. and included extensive discussion on the need to reduce the non-departmental budget from approximately $2.6 million to $1.5 million.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum (Brandon Boudreaux): Asked the city to maintain the museum’s current funding level (no increase). Noted the museum preserves Biloxi’s maritime heritage, operates the Biloxi schooners, hosts community events, and employs two full-time staff. Highlighted that a funding reduction would affect facility maintenance, educational programming, collections preservation, and the ability to leverage outside funds.
• Harrison County Soil and Water Conservation District (Patrick Chubb): Requested $5,000 (same as last year's appropriation of just over $4,000). Explained the district provides environmental education in schools across the county and acts as a conduit for NRCS emergency funding. The city’s contribution supports a one-employee operation funded primarily by Harrison County and other municipalities.
• Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence (Stacey Riley): Asked the city to keep the agency in the budget (requested $33,000). The center served nearly 4,000 people in 2025, including over 800 Biloxi citizens. Services include a shelter, forensic exams, a preschool program, and legal advocacy. Noted that local dollars are used as match for federal/state grants; a reduction would jeopardize the ability to leverage larger funds and could be “very detrimental.”
• CASA of South Mississippi (Cynthia Zapata and former foster youth Haley Wing): Requested $20,000 (same as previous years). CASA provides court‑appointed volunteer advocates for abused/neglected children. So far in 2026, 45 Biloxi children have been served; 93 children across Harrison County are still awaiting a volunteer. Local funds comprise 8% of the organization’s budget; cuts would limit the ability to leverage additional dollars. Council members praised the program and its low administrative costs.
• Cruising the Coast (Woody Bailey): Requested support for the 30th annual event (October 4–11). Reported record pre-registrations (~9,000 with 41 states and multiple foreign countries) and noted the event generates the highest hotel ADR of any coastal event. Asked for continued city assistance and discussed traffic flow concerns related to lane closures on Highway 90.
• Biloxi Main Street (unidentified representative): Requested $50,000. Reported that since 2023 the organization has secured over $1 million in grants for the city, including banners, trash cans, and signage. Described an upcoming $625,000 MMSRG grant opportunity requiring $125,000 in city match. Funds also support First Fridays, street lighting, and downtown beautification. Council noted $12,400 in facility fee waivers for a New Year’s Eve event; the representative was unsure of that entry.
• Women’s Resource Center (Barbara Lemmon): Requested $20,000. The center serves women and families across Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties, offering pregnancy support, ultrasound services, educational classes, and parenting resources. A reduction would require finding alternative resources but would not be “detrimental.” Council thanked them for their work.
• Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum (Susan Hunt): Asked the city to maintain prior funding. The museum has a new five-year lease, operates limited hours (Tuesday–Wednesday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.), and is seeking volunteers and a permanent building. The executive director recently resigned. Council expressed concern over maintenance costs on a private building but acknowledged the museum’s cultural value.
• Harrison County Library System (Sarah Rescue, director): Asked for a flat budget (current appropriation $793,000) and provided detailed scenarios for 5%–50% cuts. Reported over 100,000 visits and 129,000 physical checkouts across four Biloxi branches in the past year; staff start at $11.15/hour and 22 of 28 employees earn less than $15/hour. A 10% cut could risk losing $200,000 in state funding due to maintenance-of-effort requirements. Council members criticized the library’s earlier social‑media “sky is falling” messaging but pledged to work together. Several council members specifically opposed closing the Woolmarket branch, which serves a area with no public transportation.
• Coast Transit Authority (CTA) (Mr. Rizzo, executive director): Presented the agency’s budget request of $419,000 for Biloxi’s share of fixed‑route service. CTA moved 822,000 passengers systemwide in 2025 (671,000 on fixed routes). Biloxi‑specific routes (Beachcomber, Casino Hopper, Pass Road) accounted for 42% of total service hours. Local government funding makes up only 17% of CTA’s operating budget (lowest among peers). A reduction would require public hearings before route cuts. Council members asked for scenario modeling similar to the library’s (e.g., impacts of 5% or 10% cuts). CTA noted planned micro‑transit pilots for lower‑density areas like Woolmarket.

Discussion Items

• Council members repeatedly emphasized the need to reduce non-departmental spending from $2.6 million to roughly $1.5 million. Both the library and CTA were identified as the two largest line items.
• Several council members urged agencies to communicate directly with them before using social media or public alerts, particularly regarding potential service closures.
• The library director apologized for the earlier social‑media campaign and committed to closer collaboration.
• Councilman Glavin requested that CTA provide a breakdown of service impacts at 5% and 10% reduction levels, similar to the library’s scenarios.
• The mayor offered no specific guidance but directed council members to contact city staff with follow‑up questions.

Key Outcomes

• No final budget votes were taken; the hearing was for public input and deliberation.
• The meeting adjourned on a 7‑0 motion (all council members present).
• Council directed city staff to compile answers to questions raised during the hearing before the final budget adoption.
• Several agencies (library, CTA) agreed to provide additional scenario analyses to help the council make informed funding decisions.