With the sale of the Oktibbeha County Hospital, our community has been entrusted with a rare opportunity. We believe the proceeds from the sale are approximately $58 million. These proceeds represent a one-time infusion of capital that, if fully invested with intention and foresight, can serve Oktibbeha County for many generations to come.

The Greater Starkville Development Partnership recently passed a resolution encouraging the Board of Supervisors to place the full $58 million into a long-term investment structure, such as a trust or endowment, designed to preserve the principal and generate meaningful returns. This is not a critique of current needs. We acknowledge and respect the challenges facing county leadership and the essential services that require funding. Our hope is to offer support and perspective as they consider this moment.

We believe that by investing the full amount, the Board can unlock far greater potential for this one-time windfall. Consider this: investing 100% of the $58 million could yield millions in annual returns lasting forever. By contrast, investing only 80% (roughly $46 million) would significantly reduce the long-term impact. Over 20 years, assuming a modest 6% annual return, the difference between investing 100% versus 80% could exceed $35 million in additional cumulative earnings. That’s real money that could fund more projects, support more families, and improve more infrastructure than a one-time spend ever could.

Even more, a fully invested fund could serve as a powerful match for federal and state funds. Many transformative state and federal programs require local matching dollars. A growing, reliable source of funding would allow Oktibbeha County to leverage outside resources and multiply the impact of every dollar.

Also to be clear, the Partnership is not seeking any of these funds. We are not asking for access, nor are we proposing any diversion of proceeds. Our only goal is to support the Board in creating a structure that ensures these dollars remain available for their use for decades to come.

Other communities have done this. They’ve turned one-time proceeds into permanent sources of funding for education, public health, infrastructure, and economic development. Oktibbeha County can do the same.

We believe in this Board’s ability to lead with vision. By fully investing this once-in-a-lifetime resource, they have a chance to build something lasting and prepare our community for tomorrow’s opportunities. Let’s not simply pave a single road today when we could build the foundation for every road to come. This is a moment to choose legacy over immediacy, stewardship over short-term gain. The Partnership and the people of Oktibbeha County stand ready to support the Board of Supervisors in building a future defined by foresight and shared prosperity. We respectfully urge them to preserve these proceeds in a manner that will fully serve our County for generations to come.

Mike Tagert is president of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership.