Create jobs. Don’t raise taxes.
These two demands from residents are the most frequently headed by Oktibbeha County supervisor candidates in the Nov. 8 general election.
During the Starkville Young Professionals Oktibbeha County Candidates Social Tuesday, supervisor candidates offered different ideas about how the county can generate economic growth.
Republican District 4 candidate Bricklee Miller said Oktibbeha County has been surpassed by neighboring counties in economic development despite its population growing by 10 percent in the last 10 years. Investment in economic growth is essential, she said.
“Lowndes has developed more of a job base, and that’s part of the county supervisors’ responsibility,” said Miller, who has spent the last 11 years managing the Mississippi Horse Park and Agricenter. “We don’t want to get left behind.”
Miller suggested the county invest in developing an industrial park that would attract industry. And though she is against raising taxes, she isn’t sure how else the county would allocate funds to invest in economic development without first analyzing the budget.
Current Board of Supervisors President and District 3 Democratic candidate Marvell Howard said the board has helped the county grow since the last election year in 2008. A $1.6 million county education building was recently completed, and Poorhouse Road was paved, he noted. The Poorhouse Road paving was a long-anticipated project. Howard also said the county’s relationship with the city of Starkville and Mississippi State University is “better than it has been.”
Most of all, Howard said, the county has been able to maintain or increase funding for essential services, like justice court and 911 emergency services.
“In 2008, the economy was on a downturn,” Howard said. “There was a lot of uncertainty as to what was going to take place. But I’m proud to say the county has grown.”
District 4 incumbent, Democrat Daniel Jackson, used his time to address lingering concerns of future tax increases. Jackson said that as of today, 75 percent of taxes are tied to the Starkville School District bond issue in 2007, the OCH Regional Medical Center bond issue in 2008 and a 2002 state mandate, which changed the way counties handle reappraisals every four years.
“I don’t think it’s a secret — when you’re out talking to people — they want to know why their taxes keep going up,” Jackson said. “The other 25 percent … you can put on me. But services have to be offered and kept to a minimum.”
Near the end of the event, a resident asked candidates what kind of guidance and incentives were there for individuals to establish a business in the area or invest in one.
Republican District 3 candidate Denny Daniels suggested he contact people with the MSU Research Park — the county’s premier location for new industry — where business space and mentorship is available.
Republican District 1 candidate John Montgomery said the county should have its own economic developer to help potential business owners with location and investment opportunities.
Incumbent District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer said the county shouldn’t focus on attracting large industries, because it doesn’t have the infrastructure, like the ability to offer the electricity needed to power a large factory, that Lowndes has.
Instead, Oktibbeha County should market itself as a “bedroom community” and take advantage of the appeal of MSU.
To do that, the county education setup must be merged or consolidated to make a significant improvement to the quality of life in the county, Trainer said.
In the Mississippi Department of Education’s latest accountability rankings, the Oktibbeha County School District had just one school — West Oktibbeha Elementary –meet growth status for 2010-11. East Oktibbeha was deemed a failing school, while two others were labeled low performing.
“Merging schools was on the table 10 years ago and could have been well in place,” Trainer said. “You get personal agendas out of the way, and I think we can get it done. Aside from public works and law enforcement we could possibly merge with the city. Fixing our education system is vital. It’s also the most challenging thing to getting people to move here. They have to feel confident in our education system.”
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