Special Called July 14, 2026

The City of Biloxi held a special called meeting on July 14, 2026, primarily focused on reviewing the fiscal year 2025 audit and discussing the proposed municipal budget for fiscal year 2027. The audit presentation highlighted the city's financial position, noting an unmodified opinion and some findings related to contract compliance and federal awards. Significant discussion centered on budget constraints leading to a proposed reduction of approximately 25 vacant employee positions across various departments, including police and fire, to balance revenues and expenses. The police chief expressed concerns about sustaining current service levels with reduced staffing and vehicle purchases, emphasizing the impact on public safety and morale. Council members debated the implications of these cuts on service quality and explored potential revenue-generating grants and cost-saving measures such as solar lighting and digital billing. No formal votes on budget adoption were taken during this meeting, but the council acknowledged the need for further departmental reviews and mayoral input before finalizing the budget.