The city of Vicksburg’s bottom line has improved by more than $200,000.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen Monday approved a series of budget amendments increasing the city’s general fund revenue by $227,000 — the largest amount coming in increased building permits revenue. The budget amendments are part of reconciling the city budget to close out the 2018 fiscal year.

“Building permits increased $67,000; that’s over the $92,000 that we had budgeted, “ city director of administration Doug Whittington said, adding the increase brings the total permit revenues for the fiscal year to $159,000 “with three weeks left.”

Community development director Victor Gray Lewis said the number of building permits “is trending upward; it’s clear economic growth for the Vicksburg area, so we’re real proud of that number.”
Flaggs said building permits “had been flat” for about five years. The increase, he said, “Says the city of Vicksburg is growing and headed in the right direction. We hope everybody continues to do that.”

He said the increased revenue is “worth noting on the crime page; the Facebook page that lists all the activities about Vicksburg worth noting, notice this $277,000 increase in your projected revenue. That represents growth and prosperity. So those that are responsible for the Facebook page on crime, you need to know that. That’s general fund; that’s more money in the bank.”

Other revenue increases include:

• Prior year auto tax, $13,000.

• State Grand Gulf proceeds, $36,000.

• Mississippi municipal gas tax, $3,200.

• Public safety police service fees, $4,300.

• Public safety fire service fees, $23,500.

• Recreation swimming pool fees, $2,400.

• Special assessments, $7,700.

• Miscellaneous revenues, $44,000.

• Cemetery open and closing graves, $5,800.

• Sale of real estate, $5,000.

• Sale of personal property, $65,900.