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With this year’s state legislative session well underway, local government agencies have either formed or are finalizing their wish lists for state funding.
The legislature each year designates money for local projects through direct appropriation or through a bond bill. This funding has helped build infrastructure and facilities all over the state.
In other cases, local governments ask legislators to approve a local and private tax. Or they simply ask for lawmakers to support their position on a certain issue or bill.
Cities and counties often set their legislative priorities in a resolution. Then they lobby legislators, starting with their local delegation, to see those priorities realized.
So what are area cities and counties asking for this go round?
Can Columbus get funding for a regional crime center?
Columbus set three priorities for this session. Its primary objective is landing $2 million for a regional crime center.
The funds would buy more surveillance cameras for law enforcement to install throughout the city, as well as create room at the municipal complex for 24/7 monitoring. It would likely not be used to hire needed additional staffing to man the center, Mayor Keith Gaskin said, as to not use one-time money on recurring expenses like salaries and benefits.
Jim Brigham, the city’s chief financial officer, said the goal is a center similar to the one he toured in Oxford, Alabama, built at a total cost of $4 million. Columbus won’t get there in one lick, but the $2 million “would be a start.”
In the first year Oxford’s center was active, Brigham said, the city’s police chief reported an 18% reduction in crime.
Once established, Gaskin said, the center could offer help to other agencies, similar to arrangements Columbus’ crime lab – which is used by more than 30 outside agencies – has in place.
As secondary priorities, the city is asking for $2 million for watershed projects and $835,000 to improve safety and aesthetics on Fifth Street North (things like narrowing the roadway, adding bike paths and sidewalks, and extending lighting).
The city has $6.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act watershed projects underway, but Gaskin said it would take roughly $45 million, according to the most recent estimates, to completely address flooding issues citywide.
Absent from the city’s priorities is more money for the Sen. Terry Brown Amphitheater on The Island. The city has received several million dollars from the state since 2015 for the still-incomplete facility, including $1 million in 2024. Gaskin said he didn’t think the legislature had the appetite to fund it any further this year.
Can Lowndes County land funds for industry and parks?
Of the five priorities listed in Lowndes County’s resolution, three are ambitious funding requests.
The county is asking for help with infrastructure improvements at the Cinco Megasite off Highway 82 west of Columbus – ranging from water, sewer, rail and power the county estimates will carry costs “in the multiple-million dollar range.”
Lowndes County Industrial Development Authority is partnering with the county to purchase the 1,000-acre site this year using $25 million in bonded debt. The infrastructure investment will help the Golden Triangle Development LINK market the site for industrial development.
The county also is asking for state funding to help build an estimated $10.6 million multipurpose fitness facility at its sportsplex on Highway 82, as well as $6 million to help the Eau Claire subdivision south of Columbus connect to Columbus Light and Water’s sewer service.
Flooding has Eau Claire’s septic systems insufficient, the resolution reads. The county has committed $400,000 from its strategic reserves as match for any state or federal money it receives for the project.
Other county priorities include support for keeping Mississippi University for Women and the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus, as well as capping employer contributions to the Public Employees Retirement System at its current rate of 19.9%.
How much state money will support a new Starkville High School?
Starkville did not approve a new legislative priorities resolution for this session, Mayor Lynn Spruill told The Dispatch, instead continuing lobbying efforts to fund things like watershed improvements and future phases of its Main Street Redesign project.
Oktibbeha County has not yet set its priorities, though board of supervisors attorney Rob Roberson said it may request money for a fire truck, roadwork and sewer upgrades.
But Roberson, District 43 state representative and chair for the House Education Committee, said his primary focus is landing funds for a new Starkville High School build.
Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District can issue up to $87 million in bonds to build the new campus. How much more it will take to build the new campus – and how much the legislature can stomach contributing – “depends on how we do it.”
That could mean one big appropriation or smaller investments over time, he said. Another factor is whether the project will locate both SHS and MSMS together on Mississippi State University’s campus. The Mississippi Department of Education has asked MUW and MSU to submit proposals for housing MSMS in the future. From those proposals, MDE will make a recommendation to the legislature.
Roberson said it will probably be next year before that issue is decided.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
