Friday, January 12, 2018

House passes road funding bill

Mississippi Speaker of the House Phillip Gunn issued the following statement.


MS House of Representatives Passes Additional Road and Bridge Funding Legislation


Jackson, MS— Today, the Mississippi House of Representatives passed an additional measure that will dedicate a new annual income stream to cities and counties for road and bridge maintenance.

House Bill 722 will create a new diversion of state use-tax collections, directing funds back to the cities and the counties to be used for road and bridge maintenance. This move is a redirection of existing dollars.

House Bill 722 passed by a bipartisan vote of ­­­­118-0.

“This is one of the best things we’ve done for local government,” said Speaker of the House Philip Gunn. “Our efforts will put money back in the hands of the local people. This increases the diversions back to cities and counties, which is something our mayors and supervisors have been requesting for years.”

Use-tax is gathered from sales tax collected on any out-of-state purchases, including those made online. Approximately $310 million was collected last year. The new diversion will divert 35 percent of use tax collections, which is approximately $108 million by today’s estimates. The diversion would be broken down as follows to be used toward road and bridge repair:

·         15 percent of all use tax collections (approximately $46.5 million by today’s estimates) of use tax collected will to go cities, dispersed in proportion with their current sales tax diversion
·         15 percent of all use tax collections (approximately $46.5 million by today’s estimates) of use tax will go to counties, dispersed according to their current state aid road formula.
·         5 percent of all use tax collections (approximately $15.5 million by today’s estimates) will fund an annual grant program administered through Mississippi Development Authority where cities and counties can request up to $1.5 million additional funding per road and bridge project.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hmmm - more state-perpetrated money laundering. I wonder what kind of vig the state will take to administer the transfers and who will audit the distribution and use of the funds.

I seem to remember that federal funding (READ: your money laundered by the the federal government) intended for very specific programs at DPS and homeland security was used for another - can you hear me Rusty Barnes?

Anonymous said...

DOA, Tater ain't having it or we must be getting the Lottery.

Anonymous said...


Bring on the Lottery, I'm tired of sending numbers to my kids in Tennessee to purchase a ticket.

This will help the education system in Mississippi---YEA, THAT RIGHT.

I can wait to hear all the things that the Lottery will improve.

POLITICAL BULL SHIT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Funding for Roads is Political BS

Anonymous said...

Like the feds sending money back to Mississippi for Medicaid?

If you have a 19 year old junkie living in your house and you tell him you're going to stop feeding him and buying his clothes but you'll instead give him $300 a month for food and clothing.....what the hell do you think he's going to do with the money?

He'll continue to rifle through your refrigerator, your dresser and your underwear drawer.

Anonymous said...

This is the best thing I have seen our legislators do in years. This funding is mandated to be spent on roads and bridges, not junk like museums and shopping malls. Finally spending my tax dollars on something useful and helpful for businesses!!! Thank you speaker gunn and all house members.

Anonymous said...

This is actually one situation where the need is real. People are tired of these raggedy roads and bridges and paying more for vehicle maintenance. The House of Representatives actually did something good. (Can’t believe I said that). I also find it funny that there was a concern about how to offset a $108 million hole, when NO ONE seems to care about this $415 million tax cut hole that just went into effect. At least with infrastructure, we can get a real return on our tax dollar investment, and not some bogus story of improving my community with a ridiculously huge tax cut.

Anonymous said...

Great measure by the Ms House, just hope the Ms Senate will follow suit. Good roads and transportation is economic development. Better upkeep is the first avenue to bringing in jobs. No brainer.

Anonymous said...

Let the lottery go Tater, tired of driving to Louisiana!

"I'm From The Gubment and I'm..." said...

Nobody said decent roads and bridges are not needed. Most everybody, though, distrusts legislated clauses that pretend to mandate where monies will be spent.

Remember the Social Security Trust Fund which, at the federal level, made it impossible for the money to be diverted?

On the state level, remember the PERS money that the legislature is still trying to get ahold of? Remember grants to MHP? Remember any damned Grant with mandated use?

Remember Canton Municipal Utilities? Remember Madison County pissing away millions on airport studies and unneeded lakes when taxpayers assumed those monies would be spend on necessary projects?

Remember Madison Count Supervisors stating monies could only be used for particular road projects but then hiding the pea under a different shell three months later?

Anonymous said...

I agree! This is helpful to us Mississippians! Road repair would be seen and used by all of us and it would create jobs here in our state. Let's go! Let's get this done

Anonymous said...

If the lottery ever comes to Mississippi does anyone want to bet that the money will be spent on roads?

Anonymous said...

I can't name a single bill passed into law that has helped me and my business in the last 8 years. This bill would help us!


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.