GREENVILLE, Miss. — Mayor Errick D. Simmons warned Monday that Greenville may have to raise property taxes as the city scrambles to offset state mandates and deep federal funding cuts.
In a statement released July 14, Simmons said reductions in federal support for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education, housing and other programs are shifting costs onto municipalities that “cannot—and should not—be expected to shoulder the weight of federal and state disinvestment alone.”
“It is not my desire to raise taxes on the hardworking people of Greenville,” the mayor said. “But when the state and federal governments pass down mandates, reduce financial support and cut funding for essential services, we are left with few options.”
Simmons did not outline specific figures or a timeline for a potential tax increase. Instead, he promised a “thorough and transparent review” of city revenues and spending before any proposal reaches the City Council. Public safety, clean water, road maintenance, emergency response, youth programs and access to health care and education will remain top priorities, he said.
The mayor also pledged to seek ways to protect seniors, residents with disabilities and other vulnerable groups from “undue hardship.”
City officials plan to hold public budget hearings in the coming weeks. Simmons encouraged residents to attend, ask questions and “make your voices heard.”
Greenville, a city of about 29,000 in the Mississippi Delta, has wrestled for years with infrastructure needs and a shrinking tax base. Supporters of the mayor say new revenue is essential to keep basic services intact, while critics argue the city should slash spending first.
No formal tax package has been introduced, but Simmons said the administration will work with the City Council and department heads to weigh “every available option” before acting.
