Mayor: Gulfport hopes to avoid tax hike, but lives ‘from paycheck to paycheck’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Gulfport reduced its 2026 budget deficit from $5 million to $200,000.
- Mayor Keating aims to balance the budget without raising property taxes.
- Low police pay and ward service gaps remain budgetary pressures for the city.
The city of Gulfport was contemplating a tax increase because of a budget deficit, but the plan has changed.
Mayor Hugh Keating said his administration has instead whittled the budget deficit projected for 2026 from $5 million to $200,000. His administration is no longer proposing a tax increase, he said.
Keating is working to erase the deficit — and avoid a tax increase — for 2026 while still presenting the City Council with a balanced budget, he said. The city has not raised its property tax rate in more than 28 years, he said.
“That’s one of the primary reasons we’re in the pickle we’re in,” Keating said. “We are stretching dollars as far as they will go.” The mayor added that the city is essentially operating “paycheck to paycheck” and will have little, if any, surplus in 2026. Keating and three of the seven council members did not take office until July 1.
Keating had prepared two budgets for the council to consider at its regular Tuesday meeting: one with a tax increase and one without. But the meeting was not held because the vote to approve an agenda was tied.
City budget woes discussed
Three council members said they did not receive critical budget information until Tuesday morning, giving them little time for review. Because the meeting was canceled, the council had to meet again Wednesday to approve a public notice for the budget hearing.
They did not get into detail about taxes and spending.
Council member Kendal Buckner of Ward 1 did say his ward is in desperate need of basic services, including enforcement of overgrown property laws. Both Buckner and Ward 6 Council member Carissa Corbett set up personal meetings with Keating about the budget, to be held Friday, after he assured them his door is always open, and he wants to work with council members.
A public hearing on the budget will be held at 5:15 p.m. Sept. 2 in City Council chambers at City Hall. Under state law, the city must adopt a budget by Sept. 15.
While council members see needs in their wards, Keating is concerned about pay for police officers and other city needs being deferred to avoid tax hikes. He said the Police Department has a hard time recruiting officers because starting pay is so low. Harrison County pays $55,000 a year, he said, while Gulfport’s starting salary is $49,000.
This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 4:37 PM.
CORRECTION: A public hearing on Gulfport’s budget is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Sept. 2 at City Hall. An incorrect date appeared in an earlier version of this story and in the photo caption.
