JACKSON HOLDS BRIEF HEARING ON '95 BUDGET

JACKSON -- This year's public hearing for the city of Jackson's proposed budget took less than a minute.

Mayor Paul Sander, who opened the hearing Monday night, noted that no-one was there to comment and he closed it. He said the city has a history of little public input on budgets, probably a sign that constituents are happy.

"We'd like to take it as a vote of confidence in the conservative budgets we put in front of them," Sander said. "We make sure the bottom lines match."

True, there isn't much citizens could argue about in 1995's version. The $12.1 million plan provides for an additional police officer, three full-time solid-waste employees and a new construction inspector for the Department of Public Works.

It includes a revised pay plan for city employees, the first of its kind for Jackson, that reflects the amount of time they spend working for the city.

The proposed budget also provides for a $200,000 move to the downtown Boatmen's Bank, which will be the new city hall, and permanent public restrooms at Brookside park.

"There's a fine line between things we want and things we need," City Administrator Steve Wilson said. "There are plenty of things that would make our work easier, but there are only so many pieces of the pie."

The only step left in approving the budget is for the board of aldermen to peruse it and ask questions. The mayor said he expects them to suggest only minor changes before granting final approval at the board's Feb. 6 meeting.

Last year's budget was for $11.9 million, and Sander said no additional taxes or fees were levied to make up the small difference this year.

Jackson's budget is usually approved around April of each year, but Wilson wanted to get it completed earlier. He said city staff would begin working on 1996's version in November.