TYLERTOWN — The imminent closure of the Pearl River Basin Development District has launched its officials on a farewell tour.
Lack of money is forcing the agency out of business, as both state and federal funding sources have dried up. Fewer counties are paying member assessments, too, as the pullout of Neshoba County this year has left just 10 members out of 23 eligible counties.
“We won’t have $50,000 for (each county’s) projects next year,” Executive Director Mike Davis told Walthall County supervisors. “We’ll have $15,000 at most.”
He urged the supervisors to submit invoices on the boat ramp construction project at Stallings Bridge before June 30 so the district’s part of the project can be disbursed before the next fiscal year starts.
Information provided by Davis showed more than $1.2 million spent in Walthall County by the district, starting with development of Walker’s Bridge Water Park in 1970.
He also proposed turning over ownership of the Holmes and Walker’s Bridge water parks to the county, which already operates and maintains them. The board reacted favorably but took no action.
Divesting the organization of properties lke the water parks are just part of the difficulty of closing out the district’s business.
“We have no blueprint for shutting down a state agency,” Davis said.
Of the agency’s three employees, Davis said two are eligible to retire and will be doing so.
In addition to the loss of a grant funding source, supervisors got a surprise from their own budget.
County bookkeeper Cindy Ginn told board members that the countywide road fund had dwindled to $1,408.
Matching funds of about $150,000 from the state on a construction project, which were returned to the countywide road fund, are supposed to be transferred to the general escrow fund, from which funds were borrowed until the state reimbursement came in. Moving the funds en masse would leave the $1,408.
The countywide road fund receives $3,500 each month in petroleum severance taxes, but “we’re spending more than we’re putting in,” Ginn said. “Something’s gotta give.”
Ginn pointed out a number of tool purchases made through the fund, and board President Larry Montgomery said a mechanic who left the county’s employ had used his personal tools on the job and taken them with him when he left.
Supervisors delayed consideration of making the transfer to general escrow.
The board did transfer about $300,000 from the general fund to the jail for bond payment, and moved about $3,700 to a library construction fund to erase a deficit and zero out the account.
Ginn also said the county got a $16,313 refund on worker’s compensation insurance.
Justice court collections in April were reported at $11,482.53 in criminal fines and fees and $3,555 in civil fines and fees. For May, the totals were $15,104.32 criminal and $3,491 civil.
