OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Biloxi City Council Meeting – August 24, 2026: Tax Increase Advertisement, Budget, and Development Updates

City Council — Monday, August 24, 2026
BodyBiloxi, Mississippi
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, August 24, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:00:22

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Everybody for attending today's council meeting.

0:06

At this time, I'll entertain a motion to suspend the rules.

0:11

So move motion by Mr.

0:14

Glavin.

0:15

Second by Mr.

0:16

Nail.

0:20

Any discussion?

0:22

All in favor of suspending the rules.

0:25

That's a 7-0 vote for the clerk.

0:27

Thank you.

0:28

The clerk would read the revisions to the agenda, please.

0:31

To the routine agenda, we're substituting the routine resolution.

0:37

All right, substituting the routine resolution.

0:40

All right.

0:41

I'll entertain a motion to approve the amended.

0:46

The agenda as amended.

0:47

Motion by Mr.

0:48

Glavin.

0:51

Second by Mr.

0:52

Nail.

0:54

Any discussion?

0:55

I mean my finger.

0:57

All in favor.

0:59

All right.

0:59

That's approved on a 7-0 vote for the clerk.

1:03

Thank you.

1:05

All right.

1:06

At this time, I would like to uh before we get to the mayor's report.

1:11

I'd like to welcome those students and teachers from Biloxi High School sitting in the front on your right side of the room.

1:20

The teachers are Jessica, Mrs.

1:23

Jessica Blair, the hospitality and tourism teacher, and Mrs.

1:26

Sherry Allen, the business marketing and finance teacher.

1:31

These students are from the distributive education clubs of America, commonly known as DECA.

1:37

And they are in the classes of hospitality and tourism and also business marketing and finance.

1:44

Thank you for being with us today.

1:50

All right, and thank everyone else who's visiting today.

1:54

That being said, we'll move to the mayor's report.

1:56

Mr.

1:56

Mayor.

1:57

I did shock them a little bit.

1:58

Keep your speeches under five minutes, right?

2:02

Well, I thought I was just kidding.

2:04

But welcome everyone today.

2:07

It's a great pleasure to see everyone here today.

2:10

And uh before uh we did I got on a train this morning at 748 and celebrated the one year anniversary of uh uh the Mighty Grow line and uh rode to uh Bay St.

2:22

Louis and and back on the train.

2:24

Well we didn't get back on a train, we were a little bit late, but so uh we're in in the car.

2:29

But it's a great success.

2:30

I think they had anticipated uh maybe a hundred thousand people where they cost that mark uh about eight about four months ago.

2:38

So in eight months they hit over 100,000.

2:40

Uh and I think right now it's about 151,000 uh uh uh riders and you know from Gulfport, I mean from Bill all the way to New Orleans.

2:49

So it's a great success in uh investigating some other other things regarding uh stops and make it even more successful.

2:57

But uh Bilox is is uh I think the spot where uh we have the riders uh coming pretty much daily in football season, you know, going to and from Saints Game is very it really is a success.

3:11

Uh at this point at this point, I'd like to ask Liliana Jeanette from the SBA to come on and give us some uh uh assistance uh uh information.

3:19

Thank you, Liliana.

3:25

Good afternoon, members of the city council, good afternoon, mayor, everybody in the room.

3:30

Um I am honored to be here today to you know give you valid information of what the small business administration office of disaster recovery and resilience.

3:40

It's here to assist everybody that was affected by Tropical Storm Arthur.

3:46

Um we have opened two business recovery centers, one in uh Harrison County at the Hansborough Community Center in Gulfport this past Saturday.

3:57

Uh the hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 to 6.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Fiscal Sustainability██████████████████18%
Budget Equity Analysis█████████████████17%
Public Works███████████████15%
Economic Development█████████████13%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Procedural███████7%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Public Safety████4%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Biloxi City Council Meeting – August 24, 2026

The Biloxi City Council met on August 24, 2026, at 22:37 UTC (local afternoon) to discuss a proposed property tax increase, approve advertising for a public hearing, and address various city operations, development projects, and public comments. The meeting included a mayor’s report, departmental reports, council reports, public comment, and action on several resolutions.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the amended agenda (7-0).
  • Approved the routine agenda (7-0), with Councilman Creel abstaining from the Curry Johnson invoices.
  • Approved the consent agenda with one abstention from Councilman Marshall.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jerry Harper (Water Street) urged the council to release a line-item 2027 budget and prioritize safety, fire, police, and basic maintenance. He opposed the beautification district proposal and suggested council members do hands-on work.
  • Chaplain Phillips Smith (retired) thanked the mayor for allowing pool self-securing and asked for extended pool hours for seniors, equal treatment for pickleball users regarding fees, and better pool maintenance.
  • Sherry Strother (CEO, Miss Senior World Organization) requested a 50% reduction in Civic Center rental fees for her non-profit senior pageant, which brings economic impact to Biloxi. She stated her event brings 150–200 attendees and supports charities. Council tabled the resolution to review rental policies.
  • Luther Fairley (Pastor, Main Street Missionary Baptist Church) thanked the city for supporting a community service and offered to adopt Henry Bay Park.
  • Albert Husley (citizen) appreciated ditch work progress but criticized budget priorities, citing unnecessary new vehicles and lack of police presence. He suggested cutting the $80,000 vehicle from the mayor’s budget.
  • DeRosh (retired detective) spoke on low morale among employees, stating it starts at the top, and criticized the municipal court’s lack of record, calling it an insult to citizens.
  • Susan Hunt (citizen) thanked the council and mayor for their work.

Discussion Items

  • Mayor’s Report: Welcomed DECA students from Biloxi High School. Announced the one-year anniversary of the Mighty Grow train line with 151,000 riders. Introduced Liliana Jeanette from the SBA, who provided information on disaster recovery loans for Tropical Storm Arthur. Noted FEMA centers opening at Snyder Center. Police Department’s Festival Against Crime set for September 12. Mayor then presented a detailed breakdown of casino tax revenues: in FY2025, eight casinos paid $138.2 million in gross gaming revenue; $88 million went to the state, $24 million to Biloxi, and the rest to county and schools. He argued a 3-mill property tax increase (first in 25+ years) is needed to cover a $2.4 million gap between revenues and expenses, citing inflation and the need to maintain a AA- credit rating. For a $200,000 home, the increase would be $60/year ($5/month).
  • Departmental Reports:
    • Mr. Weaver (Chief Administrative Officer): Provided updates on ditch coordination with the county (Woolmarket area), Bay Vista project nearing completion, and traffic light work.
    • Mr. Creel (Economic Development): Listed over $200 million in current commercial projects (e.g., Cybertech building, Thomas Medical Complex, Home2 Suites, Chick-fil-A, etc.) and noted sales tax revenues have exceeded $1 million for 64 consecutive months. Also cited new apartment complexes and single-family subdivisions (e.g., Falcon Glenn – 89 lots).
  • Council Reports:
    • Ward 6 (Mr. Glavin): Stated he would vote to advertise the tax increase only if the city proves it will remain among the lowest-taxed cities and if the new revenue is strictly allocated to public safety/fire.
    • Ward 7 (Mr. Schumacher): Raised concerns about road conditions on Woodland Hills Drive; requested B Connect follow-up.
    • Ward 1 (Mr. Gray): Questioned grass-cutting costs ($80–100k annually) and suggested increasing fees. Asked department heads if further budget cuts were possible without harming services; they indicated cuts would worsen service. Proposed a beautification district from Porter Avenue to Point Cadet.
    • Ward 2 (Mr. Marshall): Pressed department heads on budget cuts – fire chief said further cuts would hurt morale, police chief said cuts would reduce services like events training, parks director said complaints would increase. Marshall argued that responsibility for economic development lies with the mayor, not department heads, and that Biloxi’s $23 million gaming head start should make a tax increase unnecessary. He called for better management and a federal grant writer.
    • Ward 3 (Mr. Nail): Reported Hiller Park improvements and smooth bridge completion.
    • Ward 4 (Mr. Creel): Discussed traffic light at Sun Kiss Country Club, patching issues on Pops Ferry Road (cold patch vs hot patch), and thanked Jody Ewing for resolving a resident complaint.
    • Ward 5 (Council President): Announced September 14 ward meeting, Pine Grove paving underway, and thanked John Salisbury for traffic alerts.
  • Policy Agenda:
    • Item A – Falcon Glenn Subdivision Final Plat: Approved 7-0 for an 89-lot single-family subdivision in Woolmarket.
    • Item B – Resolution to Advertise Public Hearing on Budget and Tax Levy: Initially proposed a 3-mill increase. After debate, Councilman Creel successfully amended to 1 mill (second by Gray, passed on voice vote). The amended resolution then passed 5-2 (Tisdale and Shoemaker opposed). The advertisement will state the city plans to increase the millage rate by 1 mill from 30.10 to 31.10 mills. A public hearing is set for September 1 at 5 p.m., with a vote at 6 p.m.
    • Item C – Miss Senior World Rental Fee Reduction: Council tabled the denial resolution for one week to review facility rental policies.
    • Item D – League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Rental Fee Reduction: Tabled for one week as well.
    • Item E – Ethics Policy Adoption: Approved 6-0 (Marshall absent) to adopt a procurement ethics policy recommended by auditors.
  • Consent Agenda (Item 5A – Appointment of Municipal Clerk): Tabled for one week due to questions about whether a temporary/return-to-work employee can hold the designation. Council also raised concerns about the return-to-work policy regarding longevity pay and contract terms.

Key Outcomes

  • Vote to Advertise Tax Increase: The council voted to advertise a 1-mill property tax increase (amended from 3 mills) for the next fiscal year. The resolution passed 5-2, with Councilmen Tisdale and Shoemaker opposing. The public hearing will be held September 1, 2026.
  • Falcon Glenn Subdivision: Final plat approved 7-0, allowing development of 89 lots.
  • Rental Fee Reductions: Both items (C and D) were tabled for one week to allow staff to develop a revised rental policy.
  • Ethics Policy: Adopted 6-0.
  • Municipal Clerk Appointment: Tabled one week pending legal clarity on employment status.
  • Adjournment: The council adjourned in memory of Kim Baldwin and Ori Lee Cron.

Meeting Transcript

Everybody for attending today's council meeting. At this time, I'll entertain a motion to suspend the rules. So move motion by Mr. Glavin. Second by Mr. Nail. Any discussion? All in favor of suspending the rules. That's a 7-0 vote for the clerk. Thank you. The clerk would read the revisions to the agenda, please. To the routine agenda, we're substituting the routine resolution. All right, substituting the routine resolution. All right. I'll entertain a motion to approve the amended. The agenda as amended. Motion by Mr. Glavin. Second by Mr. Nail. Any discussion? I mean my finger. All in favor. All right. That's approved on a 7-0 vote for the clerk. Thank you. All right. At this time, I would like to uh before we get to the mayor's report. I'd like to welcome those students and teachers from Biloxi High School sitting in the front on your right side of the room. The teachers are Jessica, Mrs. Jessica Blair, the hospitality and tourism teacher, and Mrs. Sherry Allen, the business marketing and finance teacher. These students are from the distributive education clubs of America, commonly known as DECA. And they are in the classes of hospitality and tourism and also business marketing and finance. Thank you for being with us today. All right, and thank everyone else who's visiting today. That being said, we'll move to the mayor's report. Mr. Mayor. I did shock them a little bit. Keep your speeches under five minutes, right? Well, I thought I was just kidding. But welcome everyone today. It's a great pleasure to see everyone here today. And uh before uh we did I got on a train this morning at 748 and celebrated the one year anniversary of uh uh the Mighty Grow line and uh rode to uh Bay St. Louis and and back on the train. Well we didn't get back on a train, we were a little bit late, but so uh we're in in the car. But it's a great success. I think they had anticipated uh maybe a hundred thousand people where they cost that mark uh about eight about four months ago. So in eight months they hit over 100,000.

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