WBBJ
The long-awaited vote regarding the up to $36 million in bonds for the City of Jackson has finally happened. The vote was held Tuesday morning at the city council meeting.
This bond request has always been presented as ‘to not exceed $36 million.’ While this is the case, some council members felt that number was potentially too high and needed to be reduced.
“So, if we go to the 36 or 32, I’m inclined to believe that government will find a way to spend it,” said Councilman J.P. Stovall.
Another council member said he believes members of the community have voiced their opinions on the matter.
“They don’t quite trust us with money. So we need to fix that,” said Councilman Frank McMeen.
Councilwoman Marda Wallace says she has done hours of research to help begin the fix to this issue. She says they have not done an adequate job of getting done what they have said they would. Particularly the roads. Her plan was to reduce the amount by $10 million to show the public that they can get things done, while using the money in the most effective way.
“I came up with the $26 million that would be able to fund all of this year’s projects and hopefully new projects. I feel like we owe the public that. To give us another shot to show them we mean business where we’re going to spend our money,” said Councilwoman Wallace. (I like her).
So an amendment was passed to reduce the amount to an amount to not exceed $26 million.
After, the council needed to vote again to officially pass this item. Which it did.
We asked Mayor Scott Conger what is next.
“We’ll probably have a meeting or work session in the next week or so, and just go through the project list and have them have a conversation and get to an agreement on what the project list is. Because they have to get the rating agency and all that,” said Mayor Conger.
The project list will be the total amount of bonds the council will be asking for, and what it will be spent on. We’ll continue to keep you updated as the council makes more decisions.
