F riDAY, mA rch 26, 2010 • 50¢
iNSiDE
City water, sewer bills to surge Deficits to take 7 years to pay By Steve Sanoski ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com
DONE DEAL congress puts last stamp of approval on health care A5
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Collectively, customers of Vicksburg’s water and sewer services will pay $1.2 million more in the next year in minimum charges and much more in tiered charges. Rate increases to begin in May were approved by the Mayor and Aldermen Tuesday. In base fee adjustments, each of the city’s 8,500 resi-
Utility hikes The Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Thursday approved the following increases for water and sewer service, effective May 1: Current Minimum minimum on May 1 increase • Residential water $5 $8.75 $3.75 (75%) • Commercial water $23.81 $35.81 $12 (50%) • Residential sewer $8.85 $12.90 $4.05 (45%) • Commercial sewer $12 $28.25 $16.25 (135%)
Online A chart of charges/www.vicksburgpost.com dential customers will pay $93.60 more for water and sewer services over the
coming year, and 1,300 comSee City, Page A6.
Work on Washington bridge could begin in two weeks By Steve Sanoski ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com Actual work on a railtopped tunnel to replace the closed bridge at Washington and Clark streets might start as early as the first week of April following a decision to use up to $4 million more in previously approved municipal bond funds to get the long-stalled project under way.
OUT syracuse shocked in ncaa tourney B1
WEAThEr Tonight: Partly cloudy; low near 44 Saturday: Partly cloudy; high near 76
By Emily Wagster Pettus The Associated Press
Mississippi River:
36.4 feet Rose: 0.8 foot Flood stage: 43 feet
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JACKSON — Mississippi lawmakers are adjusting their calendar to allow more time More on for budget Legislature writing, and they’re hoping an infusion of federal cash will make their job easier. The three-month legislative session originally was set to
On A3
DEAThS
1804: The Louisiana Purchase is divided into the Territory of Orleans and the District of Louisiana. 1979: A peace treaty is signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and witnessed by President Jimmy Carter at the White House. 1982: Groundbreaking ceremonies take place in Washington, D.C., for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. 2000: “American Beauty” wins five Oscars, including best picture; its leading man, Kevin Spacey, won best actor, while Hilary Swank won best actress for “Boys Don’t Cry.”
See Bridge, Page A6.
State budget action stalled
ROLLING BACK IN TIME
TODAY iN hiSTOrY
In order to get the funding in place, Vicksburg Mayor Paul Winfield proposed — and the board agreed on a split vote — to use $1.5 million in bond funds that had been earmarked for road paving and $2.2 million that had been pledged to the last phase of the developing sports complex on Fisher Ferry Road. An additional
merediTh Spencer•The Vicksburg PosT
A 1957 Chevrolet crosses the Cherry Street viaduct Thursday heading to the 11th annual Big River Classic Car Show at the Battlefield Inn. The show that begins
this afternoon features about 80 Chevrolets from 1955, ’56 and ’57. It continues through 6:30 p.m. Saturday and is open and free to the public.
See Budget, Page A9.
School plan sees fewer employees, more spending No layoffs required, but 40 spots empty By Pamela Hitchins phitchins@vicksburgpost.com No teacher or staff layoffs will be required by a school spending plan presented Thursday that shows both more spending and fewer employees. Built into the proposed $80 million Vicksburg Warren School District budget is a salary and benefits allocation based on an estimated 40 positions cut by attrition. Superintendent Dr. James Price said about 23 certified positions and 17 non-instructional staff are expected to retire or voluntary sever
their employment and won’t be replaced. The budget was explained at a public hearing. It continues for a third year a choice by trustees not to cause an increase in local property taxes. In employment numbers, the budget provides for 673 licensed employees and 601 non-licensed, for a total of 1,274. This compares with 696 licensed and 618 nonlicensed, 1,314 total, in fiscal 2010, and 694 licensed, 668 non-licensed, 1,362 total in fiscal 2009 — a decrease of 88 See Schools, Page A9.
Josh Morgan picked for Wc
Policeman hired for Warren Central By Pamela Hitchins phitchins@vicksburgpost.com
On a 3-2 vote by the school board, the 30-year-old assistant coach is chosen for the top Vikings spot.
ON B1
Both high schools in the Vicksburg Warren School District will have a full-time law enforcement officer on campus after James Edward Lee Jr. reports to Warren Central High School on April 1. Lee, who Zelmarine has been Murphy a member of the Vicksburg Police Department, will become an
employee of the district and paid $36,000 annually with grant funds. The district’s other high school, Vicksburg High, is in the city limits and has long had a VPD officer assigned to the school at city expense. Warren Central, on Mississippi 27, is outside the corporate limits and thus ineligible for a city officer. Lee, father to six children, three boys and three girls ranging from 1 to 12 years old, has experience, having previously been assigned as school resource officer at See Board, Page A9.
Judges, supervisors threaten jail to get fines paid By Danny Barrett Jr. dbarrett@vicksburgpost.com Some people might be going to jail to entice others to pay past-due Warren County Justice Court fines. “When you pull out the steel bracelets, I guarantee
you money will start coming in,” Central District Justice Court Judge James Jefferson said during a rare meeting between the county’s five supervisors and three justice court judges on Thursday. No definite plan was set, but the officials agreed to try
Continuing the Tradition
■ QUALITY SERVICE AT AFFORDABLE
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to determine if, on balance, spending money to incarcerate some who owe fines would encourage them and others to pay up or at least sign up for payment plans or perform community service. Another session between supervisors and judges was
Frank J.
FISHER FUNERAL HOME
tentatively set in another three months. Collections from court fines are projected to drop by about a fourth in circuit and justice courts compared to last year, according to trends tracked in a budget update earlier this week. That, plus
(601) 636-7373 1830 Cherry St. Vicksburg, MS
about $3 million on the books in unpaid misdemeanor fines prompted the meeting. “We’re not trying to commandeer justice court,” Board President Richard George said. “What we’re See County, Page A6.