Ben Piper for Hernando Ward 6 Alderman

Happy Easter from my family to yours!

Tonight the Hernando Board of Aldermen voted to engage with an independent forensic auditor to check the practices and uses of the city’s utility fund. This is in addition to an annual audit required for many state and federal grant programs, and the additional audit was approved unanimously.

In the face of what was a growing deficit and budget errors in this fund, we seven board members had sworn when we took office to balance the city’s budget annually and to be fiscally responsible for taxpayer dollars. The money in this utility fund is not the board’s money, it is YOUR money, and this additional effort to find any root causes or mismanagement is crucial to fulfilling our oath of office and provide you with greater transparency. Thank you and God bless.

During last night’s board meeting, I requested board support for a forensic audit of our utility fund in light of the recent deficit. We will be reviewing proposals to move forward pending what the scope and cost for this audit would be. I appreciate the board’s support in this matter.

Anyone who receives water, sewer, garbage or a combination of these services deserves our due diligence from an independent professional to give us a financial review. This would be an additional audit on top of what is required by the state, and I think it is absolutely necessary to give the board and public some clarity. I will continue to post any updates as we move forward.

The City of Hernando Board of Aldermen were recently informed of a budget shortfall by our mayor. Mayor Johnson has openly and publicly admitted to budgeting mistakes that led to this shortfall including overstated revenues.

It is clear there are multiple issues in the utility fund that must be addressed as soon as possible, but it is important to find the root causes, make any necessary budget changes and weigh any increases to rates. It is worth mentioning in 2017 the board unanimously passed an ordinance that should have automatically raised water and sewer rates 3 percent per year. That has not happened.

I am incredibly disappointed and upset with the mistakes made in this budgeting process, and I plan to work to correct them and hold those in the wrong accountable. I pray solutions can be found and agreed to by a majority of this board that will move our city forward.

Quick update on road clearing the mayor sent out…

“I just got off of a phone call with the MDOT district engineer. They have been using most of the resources further to the south clearing trees out of the road, so Entergy can get in and restore power. They are now shifting those resources up here and have some snow plows staged, but they won’t really do much for the ice. As it’s starting to melt, they’re getting ready to start putting them on the road this afternoon on 55 and 69. We are having the exact same problem on the streets in the city. It is just hard to get that ice to break up.”

Send a message tomorrow that Desoto County is not for sale! Make a plan to vote at your precinct, and if you don’t know where to go, please send me a message

On Tuesday, the Hernando board of aldermen voted to reduce the millage rate from 40.76 mills to 35.76 mills in a 4-3 vote.

I chose to vote against the rate change, because I did not believe I had enough information to make the best decision with your tax dollars. There seemed at times during the discussion to be conflicting financial numbers especially with regard to how many cuts were required for a balanced budget.

Additionally, changes to the grocery tax formula and possible changes to the total property assessment were unknown if revenues would increase or decrease for Hernando. With these unknowns hanging in the balance, waiting for resolution and more data was my preference and guided my vote.

I was absolutely in favor of reducing the millage rate to offset an unnecessary tax increase that didn’t prioritize our city’s biggest needs.

First and foremost, I want to be incredibly mindful with your very hard earned tax dollars. I also want to ensure our first responders have the necessary tools to keep our community safe. There are also major infrastructure needs in Ward Six that must be planned and funded. These are my priorities as we continue the budget process in the next 30 days. I’ll continue to prayerfully consider the best way forward for our community and Ward Six. If you have any questions or concerns, my number is 601-818-6511 and I’d welcome any discussion on this matter.

The snow has come and has almost gone, but one of our really great supporters had a little fun with one of our yard signs out off I-269 with their snowman! Appreciate your support and hope everyone stayed safe and warm the last several days!

I am excited to officially announce I will be seeking re-election for Ward Six Alderman here in Hernando!

My wife and children have been incredibly supportive the last four years, and I want to thank them first and foremost for allowing me the ability to continue to serve. It is an honor to represent you in our board meetings as we conduct the business of this city. We have increased public safety by adding more patrol officers to our streets, more school resource officers to our schools and adding an ambulance to improve response times. We have invested more in street paving than any time in the history of our city with one of the largest projects, the paving of McIngvale Road in Ward Six, on time to be completed before new Hernando High School opens.

I am proud to say the last few years the city was able to do this without a millage increase to your property taxes. I have voted for fiscally conservative government, run like a business just as I promised four years ago.

My family and I are asking for your support and vote again this spring, and I know there is still much work to be done especially in Ward Six. As always, if you have any questions or concerns you can reach me at (601)818-6511. God bless!

This season of the year is incredibly busy with the end of the school semester, parties, parades, gift-giving and time with family and friends leading up to Christmas.

In our home, we do our best to impress to our children the reason for the season - the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. We hope you have a home full of the Christmas spirit, a heart full of peace and love, and remember why this day represents a time for us to come together and celebrate.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Last night, the Hernando board of aldermen voted to enter into an agreement with the county to immediately address a dangerous intersection in ward six at Pleasant Hill and McIngvale. This has been brought to my attention by many residents ever since Swinnea Road to the north opened up all the way to Star Landing.

There will be a four way stop installed with solar powered lights as soon as possible along with signage bringing attention to the change. Please continue to exercise caution the first couple weeks this change occurs as it is very possible drivers will stick to old habits and potentially not pay attention.

After the four way stop, there will be a traffic signal hung in April or May prior to the opening of the new high school in late July. The county and city are continuing discussions about a permanent traffic fix at this intersection long term.

Thank you for your patience as the city and county continue to work together to make Hernando a safer place for everyone! God bless!

It was an honor and pleasure to serve a fantastic Christmas lunch to our local National Guard and their families today!

The Hernando Veterans Day committee does such a phenomenal job supporting this annual event and there was a healthy helping of Christmas spirit in the armory along with some really good food from One and Only BBQ, God bless our NG and their families this season!!