McComb Mayor Whitney Rawlings is open to any ideas his selectmen come up with to fund paving the city’s ailing streets.
At Tuesday’s work session he got one when Selectman Melvin Joe Johnson Tuesday, presented a proposal to issue a $6 million general obligation bond to fund the street paving.
Johnson suggested that the city borrow the money because the payments would equal less than $450,000 a year — less than the estimated $1 million needed for street repair in Rawlings 10-year plan.
At 1.75 percent interest, the payments on the bond would be $355,772 a year, at 2 percent $364,236 a year and at 2.5 percent, $381,530 a year.
“I told selectman Johnson and I told the board I am looking for ideas and this is certainly an idea,” the mayor said.
Rawlings said the only hiccup in the plan is that the bond would have a 20-year payback period.
Rawlings said streets only last about 10 years and they need to be repaved. If Johnson’s plan was followed, the city would still be paying on the bond when it’s time to pave them again.
Rawlings said the city is in that very situation now because the last time the streets were done — in 1991 — the city entered into a payback period of 20 years. They retired the note last year.
Selectman Ted Tullos said he wants options, but he doesn’t want the cost to fall on the tax payers.
“If it’s an idea that doesn’t go right at the property owners and business owners (I’m for it),” Tullos said. “I am not for just sticking those poor people.”
Tullos said the city is maxed out on millage with the school district and almost everywhere else.
“We seem to be maxed out every time you look around,” he said.
Selectman Tommy McKenzie agreed with Tullos that the residents of McComb are taxed too much, but he agreed something needs to be done.
“I would say that all options are on the table,” he said. “We know there is a problem with roads and infrastructure in the city that has to be addressed.”
McKenzie and Tullos said Rawlings and the board will have to find creative ways to come up with the money and spare taxpayers.
Selectman Andranette Jordan said the idea needs to be looked into a little more.
“It is an idea and it sounds like a good idea,” she said. “It wouldn’t cover the full amount, but we can at least look into it.”
