Wesson Adopts 2026 Budget with 9.9% Millage Rate Increase

Special to Wesson News

Wesson Aldermen have adopted a 2026 fiscal year budget with revenues up 4.2 percent and expenditures up 10.8 percent that requires a 9.9 percent millage rate increase on property taxes.

For the fiscal year, the Town is projecting total expenses of $1,430,550 with revenues of $1,627,757 compared FY 2025’s revenues of $1,561,757 and expenses of $1,290,100.72

The millage rate increase will help cover lost income from the sales tax ($10,000) and the Mississippi use tax ($130,000 received from the state for infrastructure) along with higher costs reflected in the jump in budgeted expenditures.

The Town's budget encompasses revenues that pay for general government expenses, the police and street departments, Old School Community Center and public library; and revenues and expenses for the fire and water/sewer departments, and water meters.

   Other budget highlights:

• General government expenditures budgeted at $331,250 included increases in salary expenses ($80,000 to $145,000), retirement expenses ($18,400 to $23,000) and legal and audit costs ($35,000 to $45,000).

• Wesson Police Department (WPD) salaries rose to $250,000 from $235,000 while reduced personnel expenses accounted for a drop in the street department’s budgeted expenses from $91,050 to $67,600.

• Estimates of Old School Community Center and library expenditures were up slightly. 

• The fire department’s projected income and expenses remained at $32,532 and $28,450 respectively. 

• Garbage/waste management, repairs and administrative costs drove the budgeted increase in water/sewer department budgeted expenses from $583,650.72 to $647,200 on estimated revenues of $697,000 with increases in metered sales to customers and sewer charges. 

• Water meter revenues and expenses are again budgeted at $7,025 and $5,000 respectively.