Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker thanked the city's voters who approved a new franchise agreement with Mississippi Power, entitling the Hub City to receive 3 percent of Mississippi Power's gross revenue from residents and businesses.
Barker said the city's spirit has not been diminished in 2020.
"The spirit is to go after big things and get them," he said after the vote was declared Tuesday night. "We just received the results. 1,302 people voted to renew that 25-year move with Mississippi Power for the 3 percent franchise fee. That's 95.6 percent of our residents who came out to vote today, showing up in support of doing that."
Barker said the approval allows the city $1.2 million to $1.4 million in funding.
"And that funding will continue over the next 25 years," he said.
"Of course, that's a growing revenue stream, as we continue to see our city develop commercially. So, it's a big step for us."
Barker praised the city's voting numbers for enduring the significant rain.
"They came out in force and cared about this issue. They knew how important it was to our city's budget," he said.
"They knew how close we are to continuing our city's financial recovery, so to all the people who came out, thank you."
Mayor Barker also told the city workers what an outstanding job they did to prepare for the election.
"I think the lesson here is our city is in one core, more than ever before," he said. "I know that right now many of our cities are struggling. There's lots of anxiety and a lot of concern and worry about when this will all be over with, but when it comes down to it, when it comes to decision time, what's going to be best for our city, our people will always step up and do the right thing for Hattiesburg."
"We're continuing to endeavor to accomplish things to become that premier city in the Gulf South, and today is another example of that."