The Simpson County Board of Supervisors met on September 15 to discuss the proposed budget, encountering pushback from one resident.
The board opened with a public hearing on the proposed ad valorem tax revenue increase and tax levy rate decrease for fiscal year 2024. Charts, the resolution, and information on the budget were provided to the public.
At the hearing, county resident Thomas Ray Floyd said God ordained the government for three functions — to keep the peace, administer justice, and preserve the people’s liberties. He said too much government and high taxation are a threat to the people’s liberties. Floyd said the board has an opportunity to reduce taxes and that almost 50 percent of the budget is going to public education when you account for public schools and what is being sent to Co-Lin.
Floyd reiterated his message of several months that public school attendance has continued to decrease but the budget has continued to increase through unconstitutional statutes. He said MS Code 37-57-104 has not been ruled on in the Supreme Court.
“You as a board of supervisors are going to have to quit rubber stamping these increases and this unconstitutional statute has to be challenged at some point.”
Floyd offered his opinion on why school attendance is going down and attributed it to more parents sending their children to Christian schools, academies, micro schools, and home school.
He said, “More of our people are taking responsibility for the education of our own children and we ought to applaud that.”
Floyd said the people who have chosen to take responsibility for the education of their children deserve some relief on their taxes and should be allowed to keep more of their own money.
Rhuel Dickinson said there was a reduction of .34 mills in the school’s debt levy and a small decrease in the tax levy rate with a total of 109.84 mills
Sandra Jones then said “the ‘our’ that he is speaking about does not include everyone.”
Jones said, “Everyone is included in that our, but all of us are not able to do that without government help… All of us, some of us, do not come in that same realm of being able.”
Floyd clarified with “I said, if they were able.”
The proposed budget and tax levy were approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors.
Chancery Clerk Tim Gray recorded exemption certifications of the Mississippi Department of Revenue for Vestra, Real Pure, and Howard Industries.
Road Manager Ben Warren said due to good weather the county crew is ahead on their work. He said they are ahead of schedule and can put another crew on asphalt. However, the tractor used for spreading asphalt is down and cannot be repaired. He said another is needed to help spread asphalt if the board wanted to put another crew on asphalt work.
Supervisor Donnie Welch suggested checking the used market and seeingwhat comes back. Supervisor Mitchell Chatman advised shopping around to find the best equipment available. Warren will search for the equipment and present it to the board at the next meeting.
Warren reported a few problem areas with McQueen’s work on the rock and tar project in District 5. He said, “They didn’t do what they were supposed to do, and in order to get them back to do some of this work it is probably going to be next year.”
Warren advised cutting $10,000 off the final bill and letting the county crew fix the problem areas. Chatman was opposed to the idea and wanted to hold McQueen to their contract. Warren said it would be next year before they would be able to come back.
The board moved to approve the amendment to the contract against Chatman’s opposition.
Chatman said, “We should still hold them accountable. They have put us off on the backburner from the get-go. Here we are at the end of these terms, and they still haven’t completed what they said they’re going to do, and they’re still wanting to get paid.”
John Kilpatrick said the volunteer fire departments are fighting three to four fires a day due to dry conditions. He reported six structure fires this month and said the county is still under a burn ban until October 1.
Inventory Control clerk Charlie Welch said the courthouse project is progressing well, that siding is up on the trustee hall and the next need is to order mattresses and linen.
County tree trimming and cleanup was discussed. Warren said when the project was originally bid it was for the tree trimming and cleanup, but once the process was underway it appeared to be more efficient for county workers to clean up what was cut. Jeremy Cockrell had bid the service for $150 an hour for cutting and piling. County Administrator Rhuel Dickinson said the service would need to be advertised and the board would need to decide how much cutting they wanted to do. The board tabled the decision.
The board went into executive session to discuss litigation concerning Mississippi Hub.
