Mississippi lawmakers are still trying to decide how they will spend billions of dollars in federal funding.Money from the American Rescue Plan is still to be handed out. A Senate Committee on Highways and Transportation met Tuesday at the state Capital to map out possible spending plans based on the expected influx of millions of more federal dollars.”Everybody is hearing details on it. I am still trying to get my arms around it, but I want to be ready when that money is available, to make sure we do spend it wisely,” said Sen. Jennifer Braning, Senate Transportation Committee chairwoman.Lawmakers are maneuvering on how to spend the expected arrival of $4.5 billion in money from the president’s recently-passed infrastructure plan. Many of the finer details are unclear, but the bulk is expected to be directed to roads, bridges and broadband internet.”Jackson has neglected its water and sewer system for many, many years, and they have gotten lucky because there are two large pots of money that are going to be available,” said Sen. Walter Michel.Michel is a member of a Senate subcommittee set up to study ways to spend that money from the American Rescue Plan Act. About $1.8 billion is still left to hand out from that pool of money. “Road improvements, bridge improvements, money in that for health care. Our state health care plan, the plan for our state employees and our school teachers has bled about $40 million in cash,” Michel said. “Maybe look at replenishing some of that money.”Hundreds of millions of dollars are earmarked for sewer and water repairs. The city of Jackson’s well-publicized need for that is expected to come front and center, but other cities and counties in the state have needs, too. Sen. John Horhn said Jackson’s ability to get more of that money will largely hinge on how they have spent what they have already received.”I do believe that if the city makes a concerted effort, and Hinds County makes a concerted effort to use the money they have gotten for infrastructure, they will see the state of Mississippi respond in kind,” Horhn said.Gov. Tate Reeves is still giving no indication on a special session to spend some of the rescue act money. The infrastructure money headed this way is not expected to be clarified until the regular session start date in January. But Mississippi is in line to receive the equivalent of an entire state budget.
Mississippi lawmakers are still trying to decide how they will spend billions of dollars in federal funding.
Money from the American Rescue Plan is still to be handed out.
A Senate Committee on Highways and Transportation met Tuesday at the state Capital to map out possible spending plans based on the expected influx of millions of more federal dollars.
“Everybody is hearing details on it. I am still trying to get my arms around it, but I want to be ready when that money is available, to make sure we do spend it wisely,” said Sen. Jennifer Braning, Senate Transportation Committee chairwoman.
Lawmakers are maneuvering on how to spend the expected arrival of $4.5 billion in money from the president’s recently-passed infrastructure plan. Many of the finer details are unclear, but the bulk is expected to be directed to roads, bridges and broadband internet.
“Jackson has neglected its water and sewer system for many, many years, and they have gotten lucky because there are two large pots of money that are going to be available,” said Sen. Walter Michel.
Michel is a member of a Senate subcommittee set up to study ways to spend that money from the American Rescue Plan Act. About $1.8 billion is still left to hand out from that pool of money.
“Road improvements, bridge improvements, money in that for health care. Our state health care plan, the plan for our state employees and our school teachers has bled about $40 million in cash,” Michel said. “Maybe look at replenishing some of that money.”
Hundreds of millions of dollars are earmarked for sewer and water repairs. The city of Jackson’s well-publicized need for that is expected to come front and center, but other cities and counties in the state have needs, too. Sen. John Horhn said Jackson’s ability to get more of that money will largely hinge on how they have spent what they have already received.
“I do believe that if the city makes a concerted effort, and Hinds County makes a concerted effort to use the money they have gotten for infrastructure, they will see the state of Mississippi respond in kind,” Horhn said.
Gov. Tate Reeves is still giving no indication on a special session to spend some of the rescue act money. The infrastructure money headed this way is not expected to be clarified until the regular session start date in January. But Mississippi is in line to receive the equivalent of an entire state budget.