Stennis Institute Holds Public Meeting On City Government Options In Vicksburg

Residents in Vicksburg attended a public meeting last week at the Warren County Courthouse to learn more about possible changes to the city’s governmental structure. Lead by Dr. Dallas Breen, executive director of the John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at Mississippi State University, the meeting highlighted the potential benefits and drawbacks of changing the city’s governance model.

Petition Calls for Change

The discussion was prompted by a group of concerned Vicksburg residents who have started a petition advocating for a restructure in the city’s government. The petition currently needs around 600 more signatures to reach the approximately 1,400 required to necessitate a ballot initiative. The main objective of the potential change is to shift from the current “commission” model of government to a “council-manager” wherein a mayor and likely five council members would be elected by voters and a city manager would be appointed.

Existing Governance Structure

Vicksburg’s present governance model is unique and harks back to a time before the state’s 1890 constitution when private charters were adopted voluntarily by municipalities. Commenting on this, Breen said that Vicksburg is distinctive in that “it has a special charter,” and thus isn’t totally governed by the commission model. Currently, the city operates with a mayor and two aldermen, all of whom hold equal voting rights on municipal decisions.

Potential Changes and Implications

According to Breen, just two cities out of the 299 municipalities in Mississippi – Vicksburg and Clarksdale – function under a form of governance akin to the “commission” form. But 95% operate under a “mayor-board” form, which doesn’t grant anyone – including the mayor – more power than anyone else. Only seven municipalities currently practice the “council-manager” government model, which separates politics from administration, according to Dr. Eddie French, a professor at Mississippi State University and a former city manager in Virginia.

French emphasized the lack of a one-size-fits-all solution, stating, “Being a city manager is not an exact science.” He explained that the city manager would be in charge of many decision-making processes in Vicksburg under the proposed “council-manager” form, but the city council would ultimately make hiring and firing decision for the role. Highlighting differences in compensation, French noted that while council members are typically part-time and command less salary than Vicksburg’s current full-time mayor and aldermen, a substantial salary would likely be required for a professional city manager.

Public Opinion & Final Thoughts

Despite resistance from some city leaders who cited potential difficulties in unanimous decision-making with a larger council among reasons to maintain the current system, the push for change in Vicksburg continues. Marilyn Terry, a Vicksburg resident advocating for the shift, believes that appointing a professional city manager to oversee the city’s operations could increase accountability and provide a more balanced representation of the community’s needs.

Dr. Breen stressed that changing the form of government doesn’t necessarily bring about better or worse outcomes but reminded residents that the power for reform lies in their hands – “Who you all elect; who you put in office is who you want to lead”.