An economic development/tourism director in the mayor’s office, reorganization of the city’s Action Line and more daily oversight of city division heads top Mayor George Flaggs Jr.’s plans for the third year of his administration.

He sent the recommendations by email Wednesday to Aldermen Michael Mayfield and Willis Thompson.

“The best time to make tough decisions in a four-year term, it’s been my experience, is in the third year,” he said Friday. “The fourth year … that’s when you ought to be showcasing what you’ve done the past three years. The third year is critical. These things I’m bringing forward and these things in the recommendations and in the budget are a matter of necessity.”

One thing not included is employee pay raises, although Flaggs said city officials may look at some salaries to determine if they have to be adjusted. He did not give specifics.

While he hadn’t read all the recommendations, Mayfield said most of what he saw “I definitely believe is workable.”

“We’re taking it day-to-day,” he said. “Most of what he has on there, about half, I believe, we already have in progress. He did add some things we have to discuss, but most things are workable. Some of it is going to take some serious discussion.”

Thompson agreed, saying he is willing to look at the recommendations.

“Anything that can improve efficiency, I’m interested in,” he said.

He also agreed with Flaggs’ plan to hire an economic development/tourism director, because he believes the city needs someone to plan its policies for development.

Flaggs said the new position would not conflict with the economic development efforts of the Warren County Port Commission or the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The city’s director, he said, will work with the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce, the port commission, the county and state and federal officials.

“We need someone who can work daily tracking legislation, federal and statewide, when the Legislature’s in session, and to develop policy for us so we can compete on projects,” he said.

“They’re going to collaborate. I don’t envision us trying to take over. The city and the county are going to be of one accord.”

He said the city has previously had economic development directors, adding there is job description for that position on the city’s job list.

“These people can help me work with Congress, the Legislature and the business sector to try and increase retail business and assist us in business and economic development,” Flaggs said. “We have a real opportunity at this time to showcase Vicksburg and sell our resources and maximize our opportunities and increase small business.

“We need to be more proactive and think outside the box. I think it’s so important for us to start making an investment into our community through different programs that enhance the quality of life for our citizens, particularly our children.”

He said changes in the Action Line would provide more accountability by separating the calls on whether they involve the North or South wards.

“We’re making a record of all constituent calls,” he said. “In the North, Mayfield, and South, Willis. Every month, I will get a summary and we’ll see what has been completed and what has not been completed. This will provide more oversight on a call out and it will give us a record on all work orders.”

The changes, he said, will also allow him to have more oversight on the city’s nine division heads.

Flaggs said the changes will tie into the city’s Munis accounting software, and will be used when the city goes to performance-based budgeting. He said Friday Munis has developed software that will allow the city to go to performance-based budgeting.

“Eventually, I want to get a cost assessment, so I can know how much we’re budgeting on these calls too. My intention is to identify every penny spent in the city and by the city,” Flaggs said.

Other items in the mayor’s third year plan include:

• Increasing efficiency in the fire department, which includes closing Station No. 7, increasing manpower and the minimum wage for beginning firefighters, and lowering the fire insurance rating. Flaggs plans to lower the minimum age for beginning firefighters to 19.

• Combine vehicle needs by looking at the city’s vehicle needs over three years, and looking at acquiring them through lease purchase.

• Establishing a budget preparation committee to examine departments’ budget needs and capital requests and priorities. “That’s something we haven’t done in the past, is look at costs for equipment and the large items that can’t be paid (off) in a year,” he said, adding the city’s budget oversight committee will stay.

• Expand community policing and neighborhood watch, with more emphasis on high crime areas.

• Educational donations for Pigs-N-Flight Museum, $10,000; The Vicksburg Warren School District’s Leader in Me Program, $5,000; and Excel by 5, $2,500.

“I don’t see a whole lot of cost. Most of these, except for the donations, can be offset by improving efficiency,” Flaggs said.

“The bottom line is that we do this within our own means, and we don’t raise any taxes, and we save $500,000 for the reserve fund. I think that’s phenomenal,” he said, adding his goal is to have $4 million in the city’s reserve before end of his term.

“That from a $473,932 deficit,” he said, “That’s what everyone seems to forget.

“The budget controls how much you can change. I’m a pay as you-go-guy. I just think as you make changes in saving, you should either save it or try to put it in enhancing other programs.”