Action
Where It Counts
Jeffrey George applies his experience, passion, and energy where it counts to make Hattiesburg a better place to live, work, learn, and play. Jeffrey works together with the City Council and the Mayor to advance projects and initiatives that positively impact residents of Ward 1 and all who call the Hub City home.
Infrastructure
Advocated to increase the city’s paving budget, which was raised each year by the City Council allowing for at least $1.5 million to be spent in each Ward and 75 miles to be paved across the city over the last 4 years
$1.5 million spent in paving between 2017-2021 in Ward 1, which was an increase from approximately $300,000 in the previous four years (2013-2017). Over 37 streets and 15 miles paved across Ward 1
Completed $1.8 million redevelopment of N. 38th Avenue between Hardy Street & W. 4th Street, which included a new 8-ft multi-use pathway, upgraded lighting, landscaped medians, and a traffic light at Montague Boulevard
Completed $800,000 redevelopment of N. 31st Avenue between Hardy Street & Pearl Street, which enhanced this entrance to the Southern Miss campus. Project included improved drainage infrastructure, upgraded lighting, and a landscaped median
Public Safety
Voted to initiate construction on the $28 million Public Safety Complex in Downtown Hattiesburg, which will serve as the new home for the Hattiesburg Police Department and Municipal Court
Worked together with the administration to help secure the addition of Hattiesburg's 9th Fire Station located Highway 49 North, which will serve the residents and businesses of Ward 1. The facility is scheduled to open in April 2021 and will include a Police Substation
Advocated for the creation of a charter a program among Southern Miss, William Carey, and the Hattiesburg Police & Fire Departments to provide, as a recruitment tool, 2 free classes per semester for public safety officers
Authored and unanimously passed Hattiesburg’s Hate and Intimidation Ordinance, which requests the Mississippi Legislature to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability into the State’s Hate Crimes Statute. Also authorized the Hattiesburg Police Department to train its officers on proper reporting of Hate Crimes and authorized the Hattiesburg Police Department to report all Hate Crimes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Fiscal Responsibility
Prioritized the need to improve our city's financial standing and restore our bond rating by supporting the audit firm chosen to complete 3 years of audits (FY 2015-2017) in less than 2 years
Worked together with the City Council and administration to pass the City of Hattiesburg’s first structurally balanced general fund budget in 10 years (FY 2021)
Investment in Personnel
Worked together with the administration, city council, and department heads to raise the minimum wage for city employees in Public Works, Parks & Recreation and Water & Sewer, in order to ensure all city employees, earn a living wage
Committed to and funded annual step raises for Hattiesburg Police Department and Fire Department Officers, based off the pay scale passed by this City Council in 2018
Commitment to Service
Worked to improve the quality of city services in Ward 1 by advocating for the needs of citizens and through taking a hands-on approach to ensure that piles are picked up, potholes are patched and no part of Ward 1 is ignored.
Advocated for improved LED street lighting within our neighborhoods and proactively worked to ensure all streetlights were working for the safety and convenience of residents. Over the last 4 years we have upgraded completely to LED lighting along W. 4th Street (Between Hwy 49 & I-59), N. 38th Avenue, Pearl Street, N. 34th Avenue, N. 31st Avenue, Beverly Hills Road, Campbell Drive and Golf Course Road
Partnered with the University of Southern Mississippi to make Hub City Transit more accessible to students, faculty, and staff by creating the Gold Route that provides fixed route transportation around campus for free with a USM ID and through the addition of the Green Route that primarily serves Ward 1. Improvements were also made to the Brown Route to better serve residents on Campbell Drive, Beverly Hills Road and W. 7th Street