The City of Vicksburg turned a negative 180 degrees — and saved the taxpayers money in doing so.

City board members voted 2-0 on Monday to hire Jacqueline Walker as Mayor Paul Winfield’s secretary.

Her job duties include clerical work in the office and coordinating the mayor’s schedule. Her salary will be slightly more than $25,000 per year.

She will replace Kenya Burks, who held the position of chief of staff to the mayor at considerably higher cost. Her base salary of $72,000 included running the office and “furthering the mayor’s agenda.”

In addition to that $72,000, Burks last month was paid nearly $10,000 in overtime pay after it was determined she was owed it because she was not a personnel supervisor.

South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman voted against the hiring of Burks or the creation of a chief of staff position, saying the position wasn’t necessary. In eliminating Burks’ position, the aldermen voted 2-0 with Winfield abstaining.

Personalities aside, the hire was wrong in the first place. In times of budget-cutting, the taxpayers are owed from city officials a commitment to be competent stewards of the public treasury. Each dollar has to be scrutinized and used for the public good. Having a chief of staff being paid nearly six figures in a town the size of Vicksburg is certainly not officials being good stewards of the purse strings.

The mayor is paid about $81,000 per year, while aldermen make slightly less than $65,000. With overtime and salary, Burks raked in more than $81,000 doing mostly the same functions as Walker will be doing — at $56,000 in savings.

It is imperative to streamline departments and downsize when available. These are not lush financial times.

The city is beginning to recognize that fact.