Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris gives the State of the County Address

Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris gives the State of the County Address at the Jackson Downtown Developments First Friday Forum.  Mayor Harris first said at the beginning of his State of the county address on Friday that he was not going to address the lawsuit between the county and the City of Jackson last summer.  Harris then "reiterated his frustrations with the city's actions regarding local options sales tax revenue, which resulted in the county having to make up a $6 million shortfall by raising property taxes for the first time in more than 22 years. 

Harris said "I'm not going to discuss the $6 million deficit we had to make up in our school budget this year, because of a legal loophole that outweighed a 28 years commitment to this community" said Harris, it was made in 1989 to convince voters to give themselves a tax increase"

I also wont discuss this action that was months and months in the making to the extent of hiring outside council, attorneys, spreadsheets, flyers and even producing a video to justify a deceitful action on this community" said Harris, Our school system and the county was given 44 hours notice that this action was going to occur, it was a sad day in this community to see the City of Jackson and Madison County in legal action towards each other"

After his speech, Harris " said while he remains disappointed about the city's decisions last year they must continue to have a business relationship with the city"

It maybe strictly a business relationship, but we will have a relationship, said Harris"  Because we are all in this together, and I represent everybody that lives in the city as well as the people out in the county"

City of Jackson Mayor Jerry Gist said he consistently has in the past the city did what was best for the city, and Harris did what thought was best for the county" said Gist.  Our job is not to concentrate building allies for our political careers, Gist said, our job is to take care of the people who live within our jurisdiction the best way we can and that what both of us were trying to do"