JACKSON ALDERMEN APPROVE CITY BUDGET OF $12 MILLION FOR 1997

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a $12 million city budget for 1997 on Monday.

The new budget reflects almost a 3 percent increase over the 1996 budget.

However, Larry Koenig, the city's director of administrative services, said not all the funds appropriated for expenditures this year were spent. The exact amount of carryover funds will not be known until the end of the year.

"We should be in pretty good shape. Historically we've been more conservative on the receipt side and more liberal on the expected expenditures side," Koenig told the board during its meeting at City Hall.

"We generally don't spend as much as budgeted and take in a little more revenue than budgeted. That leaves a us a little safety cushion."

City Administrator Steve Wilson said the city is in "good, solid financial shape."

However, he said department supervisors will be encouraged to run more efficient operations in order to maximize the city's financial resources.

"While our city departments will be well funded, there will be an emphasis for our departments to improve efficiency," Wilson said.

The Board of Aldermen also approved a request from Mayor Paul Sander authorizing him to create a task force to study the feasibility of developing a multipurpose community center for the city.

All the task force members will be appointed by the mayor. Sander expects the group to be composed of more than 30 Jackson residents.

The task force will be officially appointed during the Board of Aldermen's Jan. 6 meeting. Sander said more than 20 people have already expressed interest in serving on the panel. Those wishing to serve should contact Sander at City Hall prior to Jan. 1.

"We are off to a very good start and look forward to hearing from more people," Sander said.

In other action, the board unanimously agreed to increase Wilson's pay as city administrator to $49,500 annually.