The long and arduous process to determine how the Mandeville government plans to spend public money during the upcoming fiscal year reached a crescendo Thursday night with a chorus of opposition chiming in.

The City Council approved separate ordinances for capital and operational spending during a marathon meeting that featured questions about the city’s future financial health.

Much of the debate centered around Mayor Clay Madden’s approximately $29 million operating budget for 2025-2026. While they acknowledge that the spending plan is “balanced,” critics say the city’s operational expenses are outpacing revenues.

The opponents pushed for immediate budget cuts and urged the council to take a “fiscally responsible” approach to spending rather than continuing to “kick the can down the r

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