Biloxi City Council Meeting – Non-Departmental Budget Allocations – August 26, 2026
Biloxi City Council Meeting – Non-Departmental Budget Allocations – August 26, 2026
The Biloxi City Council met on August 26, 2026, to deliberate and set allocations for dozens of non-departmental organizations and line items in the upcoming fiscal year budget. The meeting began with adoption of the agenda (7-0 vote) and discussion of department budget increase requests from administration. Council members shared divergent views on balancing support for community groups with financial constraints, particularly a $500,000 increase in employee insurance costs. After hours of line‑by‑line discussion, the council reached consensus on most items, tabled two issues for further review, and adjourned on a 7-0 vote.
Discussion Items
- Administration Budget Increase Requests – Mr. Weaver requested increases for public works temp labor (+$100,000), police overtime (+$125,000), parks & recreation temp labor (+$140,000), pool utilities (+$64,000: $38,000 chlorine, $22,000 natural gas, $4,000 electricity), and community development building side (+$30,000). These were presented as requests to be managed within the overall budget.
- Non‑Departmental Allocations Line‑by‑Line – The council reviewed each request using a table prepared by staff showing prior year allocations, current requests, and feedback from council members. Key examples:
- George Ohr Museum (electricity O&M): consensus at $65,000 (down from $84,000 request).
- Seafood Museum (electricity): $40,000 (from $45,000 request).
- Mardi Gras Museum (electricity): $7,500 (from $12,600 request).
- George Ohr Museum repair/maintenance: $35,000 (from $55,000 request).
- Seafood Museum repair/maintenance: $35,000 (from $50,000 request).
- Cruising the Coast: $10,000 (from $25,000 request).
- Coastwide MLK Celebration: $10,500 (from $15,000 request).
- Crew of Neptune: $4,000 (from $6,000 request).
- Biloxi High School Baseball Tournament: $0 (no request).
- Blessing of the Fleet/Shrimp Festival: $2,000 (from $2,000 request).
- Boom Boom Fund: $15,000 (from $15,000 request).
- Juneteenth Celebration: $10,000 (from $10,000 request).
- Tunnels to Towers: $0 (city partnering without allocation).
- Christmas on the Water: $5,000 (from $5,000 request).
- Reef for Biloxi National Cemetery: $1,000 (from $4,050 prior year).
- Mississippi Gulf Coast Carnival Association: $4,000 (from $10,000 request).
- East Biloxi Development District (new): $350,000 requested, but tabled due to lack of consensus.
- Christmas on the Avenue (new): $5,000.
- Alzheimer’s Association: $0.
- Second Liners: $2,000 (from $4,050 prior year).
- Library other expenses: $20,000 (from $25,000 request).
- Main Street: $25,000 (from $50,000 request).
- Harrison County Soil Conservation: $1,000 (from $5,000 request).
- Greater Biloxi Economic Foundation: $10,000 (from $20,250 prior year).
- Gulf Regional Planning: $10,000 (from $20,000 prior year).
- Hibernia Marching Society: $0 (moved out of city).
- George Ohr management agreement: $45,000 (from $60,000 request).
- Seafood Museum audit: $0 (reduction proposed with expectation of pro bono audit).
- Seafood Museum management agreement: $90,000 (from $92,000 request).
- Mardi Gras Museum management agreement: $50,000 (from $69,600 request).
- Crime Stoppers: $1,000 (from $5,000 request).
- Salvation Army Crock Center: $20,000 requested, tabled due to legal concerns.
- Knights of Peter Claver workforce development: $15,000 (from $20,000 request).
- Feed the Needy: $0 (no request).
- Facade Grant: $14,500 (from $14,500 request).
- Harrison County Library Commission: $730,000 (from original ask near $800,000).
- Coast Transit Authority: $419,801 (requested $419,801, maintained).
- Motor Vehicle for Hire Authority: $36,000 (pro rata share).
- Gulf Coast Women’s Center for Non‑Violence: $15,500 (from $16,500 request).
- CASA: $20,000 (from $20,000 request).
- Family Justice Center: $15,000 (from $16,500 request).
- Women’s Resource Center: $5,000 (consensus after discussion).
- East Biloxi Development District – Councilman Marshall and Councilman Gray advocated for $350,000 seed money to create a organized district with a grant writer and staff. Councilwoman Shoemaker and others expressed need for more detailed information, especially given budget cuts. Councilman Creel noted existing districts on paper. The item was tabled with a deadline of September 1, 2026, to allow further workshops and council education.
- Salvation Army Crock Center – Tabled after Councilman Marshall cited a pending legal issue. An executive session was planned for the next council meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Consensus reached on all but two non‑departmental line items; specific dollar amounts as listed above will be included in the FY2026‑2027 budget.
- Tabled items:
- East Biloxi Development District: Council to meet and gather more information; must reach consensus by September 1, 2026, to include in the budget advertisement.
- Salvation Army Crock Center: Allocation postponed pending legal clarification.
- Motion to adjourn approved 7‑0.
Meeting Transcript
Adopt the agenda. So moved. Motion by Mr. Creel. Second. Second by Mr. Glavin. Any discussion? All in favor. It's approved on a 7-0 vote. Okay. All right, gentlemen. Um subject matters to discuss the non-departmental allocations. Again, as we've done in past years. Last week we heard from those folks who were present with requests, and we had were able to ask whatever questions, had a little discussion at times. That being the case. Whenever you get a chance, sir, I would like to make a few comments. Sure. Give me give me just your your next on the list. Whenever your opportunity. So uh I I had uh gotten a list to you and uh uh from those who um whom I had gotten feedback with. I prepared a table for you. Uh so you'd look to see who what folks were requesting, what that was last year, and whatever feedback you've given me. I didn't hear from everybody, but I heard from several of the councilmen. Hopefully this will make it go a little quicker. You have some idea of the the range in allocations that we're talking about. Uh Mr. Weaver comments, please, sir. Yes, sir. Based on the last several weeks and discussion by the council, what I would like to ask is to make several smaller changes in some of these budgets, and I would like to make y'all aware of what I'm at requesting. Yes, please do that. So this is to the this is not my department. Yes, sir. Go ahead, Mr. What I would ask is for public works and uh 6643. That is temp labor. I need to increase that by 1,000 or 100,000 dollars because we've maintaining the grass cutting, all of those things. We eliminated all of that, so I would ask for an increase of 100,000 and 6643. That's in public works, in public works. In the police department, I would ask in overtime one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollar increase. That would give me basically about a hundred thousand dollars of actual up, but the twenty-five thousand would cover my pairs, workmen's comp and taxes. Okay. Parks and rec based upon the visitor center and AJ Holloway. I am requesting a hundred and forty thousand in temp labor, which is sixty-six thirty-six or sixty-six third or sixty-two thirty-eight. Uh based upon the pools. I need to request an additional sixty-four thousand and sixty-four ninety-two. I need thirty-eight thousand dollars for chlorine. Chlorine has shot up this last year. Twenty-two thousand dollars for yes. Can you go back to after uh parks and rack the 140 something thousand?
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