Time for a Full Accounting

As the full truth of the city’s considerable budget crisis has emerged, one additional thing about Mayor Frank Melton has come into full relief—he’s doesn’t know how to run the city. Couple this with the crime statistics that show Melton doesn’t know how to run a police department, and we’re forced to recognize that—aside from speaking to TV cameras and trashing other public officials—there’s very little that Mr. Melton actually can do.

Unfortunately, the professionals that Melton has surrounded himself with have also failed to step up and lead. Police Chief Shirlene Anderson is just a weak proxy for Melton—this we already know. City Administrator Robert Walker’s recent fumblings in City Council work sessions, where he seems unwilling or unable to answer basic questions about budget-line items, revenue sources and contract workers, suggests that he’s not the cleaner for Melton’s spills.

Short of Mr. Melton stepping down from office and the city holding a special election—which the Jackson Free Press would fully support at this time—it’s time to get some outside help:

1. An external audit. The city should contract with a competent audit firm to answer the City Council’s questions about revenue streams and the budget. Clearly, the Melton administration is grossly underestimating revenues and expenditures. It also appears that the city is unable or unwilling to account for hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments to temporary workers, some of which are clearly going to Melton’s “kids” and others whose job titles don’t fit their duties. We deserve to know how Mr. Melton is spending our money.

2. A city manager search. If Mr. Melton is going to remain as the figurehead mayor, it’s time for him to do everything he can to bring in and empower a “CEO” for the city. Melton has already said “he doesn’t run the city” and he’s not a “financial guy.” He needs to find that person and then let that person do his or her job.

3. A police chief search. The “cook the books” charge is getting old. You can’t cook the books on murder—which is way up—and you can’t cook the books on the fact that JPD didn’t make a single intent-to-distribute arrest in 2006. Mayor Melton trumpeted the election of incoming Hinds D.A. Robert Smith by saying “I thank God tonight that I have somebody who will put these drug dealers in jail.” What he needs is a police chief who will arrest the drug dealers in the first place. (Hint: Watch what that Mayor does and not just what he says.)

We’d prefer to see the mayor step down. But failing that, Jackson’s next step is for citizens and stakeholders to demand the mayor inject some accountability into his administration. We must insist that he put professionals in place in the city’s core service areas—and then get out of their way.