With all eyes on the City of Vicksburg’s June 3 municipal election, another summertime date is looming on the horizon after Mayor George Flaggs Jr. announced earlier this year that River City residents will see a hike in garbage rates beginning July 1.

In the Jan. 6, regular meeting of the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Flaggs said the amount of the hike has not yet been determined, but will allow the city to replenish borrowed monies from the General Fund.

During the meeting, Director of Finance and Accounting Doug Whittington read from email correspondence between himself, City Attorney Lee Thames and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s office regarding the rate increase.

“Due to the AG opinion dated Dec. 30, 2024, the city would no longer adopt a budget reflecting the use of General Fund monies to cover the collection and disposal of garbage and the disposal of rubbish. As soon as reasonably possible, on or after July 1, 2025, the board will determine a timeframe to repay the loan and increase the garbage rate to accomplish that goal. Once the city has repaid the loan, the rate can be lowered to cover the city’s costs, plus a nominal amount for supplies.”

Flaggs said a new, defined amount for the rate will be handed down prior to July 1 in order to keep the city in compliance with state law.

During the Jan. 6 meeting, Ward 2 Alderman Alex Monsour said he would not vote for the hike unless the city followed the strict guidelines handed down by the state.

When asked for clarification during that meeting, Whittington once again read the email correspondence, without changes from the reading only minutes earlier and without further context, but told Monsour the directive would indeed put Vicksburg in compliance with state law.

In August, proposed trash hikes for Vicksburg residents were announced and went into effect October 1. Those raises included a monthly increase of $4.50 — from the former rate of $16.50 to $21 — for twice-weekly residential trash collection, as well as for collection at commercial locations outside of downtown. Rates for commercial customers in the downtown district remained at $40.15 per bin, per month, with collection occurring four times per week.

The July 1 trash rates will be on top of the rates in effect since October.

“So, as early as July 1, we’ll make that adjustment,” Flaggs said.