Special Meeting Public Hearing on Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget – September 2, 2026
Special Meeting Public Hearing on Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
On September 2, 2026, the Biloxi City Council held a special meeting called by the mayor for a public hearing on the proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027). The meeting opened with the adoption of the agenda on a 7‑0 vote. Neither the mayor nor the council offered reports, and the floor was opened for public comment.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Richard Keller (homeowner in Ward 6, parent of a Biloxi Schools student, software company owner) spoke in support of the proposed mileage increase, stating he was willing to pay higher taxes. He also addressed the city's share of casino gaming revenue: about 12 cents per dollar of casino revenue is taxed, with the city receiving a fixed 4 cents per dollar under a 1992 split. Keller noted that the state recently considered raising the rate to 16%, but Biloxi would not have benefited because its local share is statutorily locked. He highlighted that approximately one in five Biloxi residents works in tourism or gaming, while fewer than one in 20 works in professional, scientific, or technical fields. Keller made three requests: (1) treat economic diversification as a dedicated revenue line funded from the gaming share; (2) send a delegation to the state legislature to request a host‑city rate reflecting Biloxi’s eight casinos (compared to Natchez’s one); and (3) when new casino development comes before the council, negotiate binding commitments to the community. No other members of the public commented.
Key Outcomes
- The council heard the single public comment and then voted unanimously to adjourn the special meeting. The regularly scheduled meeting was set to begin at 6:00 p.m. the same evening. No formal action was taken on the budget; the hearing served only to gather public input.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to thank everybody for attending this special meeting called by the mayor for a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget. At this time, I'll entertain a motion to adopt the agenda. So moved. Mr. Greel is there a second. Second. A second by Mr. Glavin. Any discussion? All in favor. It's approved on a 7-0 vote for the clerk. Thank you. At this time, we'll go to the presentation agenda, the mayor's report. Okay. No report. Yeah. Okay, thank you. Yeah. All right. Uh we'll start with the council's uh report. And let's see, let's start with for both of these a regular meeting and this special meeting with ward one. Mr. Gray, any council report? None. Mr. Marshall. Nine. Mr. Nail. None. Mr. Creel. No report. I have none. Mr. Glavin. I'll reserve my report in the regular meeting. Okay. No report. Mr. Shoemaker. All right, thank you. That brings us to the public agenda. Um if the clerk would read the item, please. Public hearing to provide the general public with an opportunity to comment on the taxing and spending plan incorporated in the proposed budget for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30th, 2027. Thank you. At this at this time, uh we'll begin citizens' comments. This is your opportunity to speak on the proposed budget fiscal year 2027. I believe there are copies of the notice, Carrie. Did you say you'd put some in the back if you didn't see this in the newspaper?
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