Commission Raises Jackson Mayors Bid Minimum

The Jackson County Commission has raised the bid minimum for the mayor’s office from $10,000 to $25,000.

Interim County Mayor Joey Denson said the change expands what the mayor can bid out without needing approval from the county commission. Denson said the higher limit will allow for more efficiency in various county projects.

“It saves a lot of time from having to call special court meetings, you know, convene the body together,” Denson said. “And just streamlines the operation of the county business. I mean, again, twenty years ago ten thousand dollars went a little bit farther than it does today.”

Denson said the new minimum matches the mayor’s limit with that of the school system and all other county departments. Denson said the county would have to meet multiple times for these items before the change, even if the project was a simple task that barely exceeded the $10,000 limit.

“All the other departments had already done this some time ago and we had just not followed through with it,” Denson said. “So we’re caught up with everyone else now.”

Denson said the change came about as a request from former Mayor Randy Heady. Denson said the increase does not require a second reading and became effective immediately after its approval.