I hope the county supervisors read this letter, or at least have someone read it to them. Some reading this may find it a little harsh, but remember to qualify to run for a supervisor position; you must live in district, must be a qualified elector, and have no felony conviction. Not much requirements for such an important job. Do you know they authorize spending millions of our taxpayer’s monies by only 3 members voting for the expenditure? Do you believe they are good stewards of our tax dollar?
Now supervisors, Oktibbeha County has been allotted $9.6 million from ARPA. Additionally, the State of Mississippi also has state ARPA monies that can be a dollar-for-dollar matching fund for qualifying projects. Ok supervisors, get a pencil, pin, or crayon and write down “$9.6 million plus $9.6 million.” When those are added your sum is $19.2 million. Yes supervisors y’all can allocate $19.2 million to make improvements in our county, but it must be allocated on qualifying projects.
During a recent board meeting, District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer wanted to use $1.7 million of the ARPA money to assist with improving the East Oktibbeha Wastewater District’s infrastructure. This type project qualifies for a dollar-for-dollar match. However, supervisors have deemed improvements to the county dam a priority and have allocated all of the $9.6 ARPA money for this purpose and this project doesn’t qualify for matching funds. Total repair of the dam is currently estimated to cost $15 to $17 million. The shortfall will require a tax increase for us taxpayers.
Find qualifying projects in our county, and when you get the matching funds the taxpayers can see $19.2 million of infrastructure improvement. Easy to figure out. Do the taxpayers deserve y’all to be good stewards of our money and receive much needed improvements, or does your buddy Supervisor Howard gets to waste (along with the other supervisors voting with him) an opportunity to make $19.2 million of county-wide improvements on his dam project and throw away the matching state funds?
At the June 6 board meeting, I would like the four supervisors Howard, Williams, Trainer, and Montgomery to go on record as representatives of their district, affirming their desire to waste the opportunity to get the state $9.6 matching funds. Voters, remember the supervisors who vote to not get the $9.6 state matching funds are not considering how those funds could have improved your district. Three of the four voting to waste it just want to be supervisors, but rumor says Mr. Montgomery wants a promotion to tax assessor.
Huel Sills, Starkville
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