Biloxi Mayor Addresses Budget Shortfall and Proposed Property Tax Increase Amid Inflation
Biloxi Mayor Andrew 'FoFo' Gilich announced that the city's revenues have not kept pace with inflation, leading to a budget gap that requires immediate attention before a mid-September deadline. To address this shortfall, a three-mill property tax increase is scheduled for consideration at an upcoming city council meeting. Mayor Gilich stated that this increase would cost the owner of a $200,000 home approximately $5 per month, or $60 annually. He explained that while the city has previously used unrestricted cash balances to cover such gaps, this approach is no longer sustainable. The city council will have the final authority on whether to implement the proposed tax increase. Additionally, Gilich discussed a state law allowing retired public employees to return to their positions at 80% of their salary after a 30-day waiting period, a policy being utilized by several city employees, including Police Chief DeBack. 
