A new economic district that provides funds to improve the area around the Leaf and Bouie rivers is being targeted for legislative consideration by next month, Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker told the City Council Monday.
Barker is presenting the district plans to the Forrest County Board of Supervisors and the Petal Board of Aldermen this week, hoping to receive approval from the three governmental entities. Money from ad valorem and sales taxes from the district would be returned to the area to fund the improvements and renovations.
Barker said he got the idea after Forrest County received $15 million last year through the Emergency Bridge Replacement package. Forrest County was going to build the new bridge south of the old bridge and tear the old bridge down, which would cost $1 million.
“We think – and I think members of the board share this as well – with some preventive maintenance and some minor investment, you could keep the current bridge and make it strictly for pedestrian and bicycle use or maybe for a food truck right there on the river,” he said. “However, as we tried to think of a way to do some ongoing maintenance and inspection, we quickly saw the potential for much more.”
Barker said he saw three advantages from establishing the River District.
“First, we all have a mutual interest in what happens on the Leaf and Bouie rivers,” he said. “We know we can certainly make better use of the water there and turn it into an asset. Secondly, we’ve seen the potential of shared use on the Leaf River with our July fourth celebration, which brought 8,000-10,000 people combined on both sides of the river.
“Finally, Forrest County, Hattiesburg and Petal have a history of working well together,” Barker continued. “There’s a good opportunity for shared use there.”
Hattiesburg and Petal could consider pledging some of the sales that is collected in the area, Barker said.
“The money could be used for infrastructure, recreation, or anything that would enhance the economic vitality or quality of life of areas within the River District,” he said. “The way it would work is when our city council or the Forrest County Board of Supervisors or the Petal Board of Aldermen set their budgets, they would specify what percentage of the ad valorem or sales taxes collected from that area would go back into that area. It could be 100 percent, 50 percent or 35 percent. There could be some tough budget years where it could be zero percent.”
Barker said he sees potential with the River District.
“This is the first draft, the first presentation,” he said. “We want to see what the city council, the board of supervisors, and the Petal Board of Aldermen think about it. We’ll get their feedback and make some adjustments. We already have some that we need to make. From here, if all sides are on board with moving forward, we’ll have a resolution that we all adopt that would request local and private legislation. That would then go to Jackson.”
This year’s legislative session is 120 days, which is a week short of usual sessions.
“It gives everyone skin in the game, but it also provides maximum flexibility,” he said. “If Petal, Hattiesburg or Forrest County are having a difficult budget year, they may not be able to participate as much that year. It allows them to make that decision year to year so no one is committed to anything expensive over the long haul.”