Were it a car, a Toyota Corolla comes to mind — little on bells and whistles but still able to get you where you need to go.

Next year's budget may not be flashy, but it provides a vehicle for the city of Jackson to steadily move toward bigger goals, city officials said on Thursday.

The Jackson City Council passed by a slim margin a no-frills budget: no new taxes and no salary increases for the upcoming fiscal year.

The council approved next year's budget by a 4 to 3 vote. Council members Kenneth Stokes, De'Keither Stamps and Aaron Banks — like the year before — voted against the budget, which will take effect on Oct. 1.

The approved budget comes after a month-long series of hearings with department heads and a hearing where residents could offer input.

The total general fund budget is just over $130 million, an increase of about $4 million from the year before.

Budget part of a 'multiyear plan,' mayor says

Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba described his third budget as mayor as part of a "multiyear plan." He acknowledged there are no pay raises for city employees, but noted the administration also did not request new taxes, a worker furlough or any layoff of city workers, all scenarios that have played out in previous administrations.

Lumumba's first budget ended a worker furlough put in place by the previous administration which was headed up by former Mayor Tony Yarber. That budget also included a tax increase.

The mayor said a some $6 million increase in debt spending offset the administration's ability to provide raises.

"We considered all the requests from council members and residents alike, and this is what we're able to do given the budget constraints we faced. We looked at what's within our capacity," he said.

With little exception, spending across departments remained in line with last year's allocations. There was an increase of about $8 million for the fire department and a decrease of just over $2 million for the mayor's administration. Spending for the city's police, Public Works, Planning & Development and Human & Cultural Services remained steady.

Council members: What about raises for police?

Council member Ashby Foote would go on to approve the budget, but like fellow councilmen Banks and Stokes, had requested a pay raise for JPD officers. Foote described the increase as vital to the morale and recruitment of officers.

"Police departments across the country are facing problems hiring and what really concerns me here in Jackson is that we have a shortfall. It has a lot to be do with the low pay and we're seeing people from here being recruited away from us," he said.

Stamps opposed the budget in part due to its lack of investment in infrastructure spending to southwest Jackson, near the vacant Metro Center.

Stokes was not immediately available for comment.

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Contact Justin Vicory at 769-572-1418 or jvicory@gannett.com. Follow @justinvicory on Twitter.