“When I took office, the City of Vicksburg was in serious financial distress”-Mayor Thompson

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) By Vicksburg Mayor Willis Thompson

When I was sworn in as mayor of Vicksburg a little more than three months ago, I promised to serve the people of Vicksburg with honesty and with a vision to move our city forward. Now, having passed the 100-day mark, I want to reflect on where we started, what we’ve accomplished, and the road that’s still ahead of us as a community.

The truth is, when I took office, the City of Vicksburg was in serious financial distress. Years of deferred decisions and overspending left us with a major structural deficit that touched nearly every department. One of the most shocking examples was our garbage fund, which was operating over a million dollars in the red. The previous administration left residents paying far less than the actual cost of service, forcing the city to cover the self-imposed shortfall out of already strained general funds—a practice that violated a State of Mississippi Attorney General Opinion. The same issue existed with our natural gas fund, where years of self-imposed under-collection left the city losing money on basic operations. These were hard truths to face, but ignoring them would have only made the problem worse. It’s a core belief of mine that elected leaders should solve problems instead of creating and perpetuating them.

At the end of the day, the City of Vicksburg is a service-providing corporation, and our shareholders are the taxpayers for whom we work. Doing this job the right way requires more than doing what’s politically popular—it means doing what’s right for the long term.

We’ve worked hand-in-hand with state and local financial leaders, including the State Auditor, our independent auditor, financial advisor, and bond counsel, to dig into the city’s dockets, outstanding obligations, and recurring expenses. With the support of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, we acted quickly to correct past decisions—adjusting rates, stabilizing deficits, and implementing reforms to ensure long-term sustainability.

That same philosophy guided the development of our recently adopted FY 2026 budget—a $33 million plan that doesn’t raise city taxes, protects essential city services, and begins to rebuild the reserves that were all but gone when I took office. It directs significant resources to police, fire, and ambulance services, because public safety is, and will remain, one of our top priorities. It also invests in infrastructure, utilities, recreation, youth, and economic development. This budget is proof that we can live within our means while still delivering the services people expect and deserve.

We’ve also made improving efficiency a core goal across all departments. In Public Works, we’re working to improve response times and modernize our tracking system so that every citizen request can be followed from start to finish. Our goal is to make city government more transparent and responsive—providing accountability on every work order. We’ve also begun closely reviewing all advertising, sponsorships, and contract renewals to ensure we, as the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, can answer for where tax dollars are going.

At the same time, we’re working hand-in-hand with state and federal partners to bring new resources to Vicksburg. We’re pursuing Department of Justice funding for new police cameras to enhance public safety. We’ve applied for grants to address erosion and street repairs along North Washington Street and have continued building relationships with our state and congressional delegations to make sure our city’s needs are understood and prioritized. That outreach has already paid off, bringing nearly $300,000 in new state dollars directly to Vicksburg through partnerships with Governor Reeves, Accelerate Mississippi, and ERDCWERX. The landmark memorandum of understanding signed at MCITy between the Governor and ERDCWERX is helping position our city at the forefront of technology transfer, workforce training, and defense-related innovation.

We’ve deepened collaborations with leaders like Cisco and Rust College to expand career training opportunities for our citizens—laying the foundation for new jobs and cutting-edge opportunities right here at home. These are the kinds of partnerships that will help make our city the state’s technology hub and a leader in innovation.

But not all progress comes from big announcements. Some of it happens on our streets and in our neighborhoods. We’ve prioritized cleanup and beautification, with Public Works crews and supervisors working overtime on weekends to mow, clear, and better maintain rights-of-way. We’re also developing a new blight-removal program to help tackle privately owned properties that have fallen into decay—because every block matters, and pride in our community starts with the way it looks and feels. Clean streets and cared-for properties are more than a matter of appearance—they’re a signal to residents, visitors, and investors that we’re serious about Vicksburg’s future. We’re cleaning up. We’re fixing up. And we’re showing investors and job creators that Vicksburg is ready for serious consideration going forward.

New investments are also a sign of that progress. Two commercial construction projects are already underway—both a new hotel on East Clay Street and a new Jack’s restaurant on Highway 61 South.

Our work is really just beginning. One hundred days is only the first chapter of a four-year story—but it’s proof of what’s possible when fiscal discipline, efficiency, and ambition come together to serve our people. My vision remains clear: Vicksburg will be a city where our finances are stable, our services are efficient, and our children can see their future right here at home.

Being mayor of this city is not only rewarding but inspiring. Our people make every challenge worth the effort, and for that, I couldn’t be more grateful. Together, we’re turning the page—and together, we’ll keep writing the next chapter of our story.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you, Vicksburg. Let’s keep moving this city forward.

Mayor Willis Thompson

Vicksburg, Mississippi