County assessment error causes city budget shortfall

Utility tax assessments in Warren County caused the Vicksburg city budget projection for 2020 to be short $1.3 million dollars.

The Baxter Wilson power plant assessment dropped substantially causing the tax revenue anticipated by the county to drop. The city receives a portion of the property tax revenue from the county and includes those funds in its anticipated revenue. Last Monday the county sent an email to Doug Whittington in the city accounting department and told him about the shortfall.

The anticipated $1.3 million shortfalls will impact the entire budget, but Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. has promised it will not impact the promised pay increases for city employees.

The mayor has challenged every department head to look at every position in their department and plan to cut jobs.