Jackson Free Press

The monthly meeting of the Jackson Redevelopment Authority was uneventful Wednesday morning, at least in the portion of the meeting open to the public.

For the first hour of the meeting, which began at 10 a.m., board members discussed issues it has had in regards to Union Station, including repeated break-ins on the second floor and a roof that has leaks. The second discussion item involved a planned renovation to the hospitality area adjacent to the meeting room at 218 Presidents Street, where the group meets.

The board then went into executive session to discuss important matters such as the proposed convention center hotel project and an update and call for action regarding the ongoing renovation of Farish Street.

Members on hand included President Ronnie Crudup (Ward 6), who was re-elected to lead the group at the meeting, Beau Whittington (Ward 1), John R. Reeves (Ward 5), Beneta Burk (Ward 3), Gregory Green (Ward 4). Executive Director Willie Mott and Administrative Assistant Denise Drake were also in attendance.

The City of Jackson will host a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28. at Anderson United Methodist Church South at 1315 West McDowell Road to give residents a chance to discuss and ask questions about the mayor's proposed rate hikes on water and sewer services.

A press release from the city yesterday said the meeting was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday night, but it was incorrect, according to the mayor's interim-media liason Latrice Westbrooks.

Westbrooks said Mayor Chokwe Lumumba will be on hand, as well as the city's Director of Public Works Dan Gaillet.

Rep. Angela Cockerham, a Democrat from Magnolia, is joining the House Appropriations and Joint Legislative Budget Committees. Speaker Philip Gunn made the announcement this afternoon. Here's the full release:

Jackson, MS—Today, Speaker of the House Philip Gunn announced his appointment of Rep. Angela Cockerham (D-Magnolia) to the House Appropriations Committee and the Legislative Budget Committee. Rep. Cockerham replaces Rep. George Flaggs (D-Vicksburg) who was sworn in as Mayor of Vicksburg on June 30.

“I am pleased to appoint Rep. Cockerham to fill this position on the House Appropriations Committee and the Legislative Budget Committee,” said Speaker Philip Gunn. “Through her work as Chairman of the House Energy Committee, Rep. Cockerham has been invaluable to the House leadership team. I know she will be an effective member of these committees as they address state budget issues.”

As a member of these committees, Rep. Cockerham will play an active role in crafting the state’s budget. The Legislative Budget Committee is a starting point for the budget crafting process. Once a year, members meet with representatives from all the state agencies who present their estimated budget needs for the next fiscal year. For Fiscal Year 2014, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees agreed to adopt $5.779 billion budget.

“I would like to thank Speaker Philip Gunn for having the continuous confidence in me to appoint me as a member of the Appropriations and Legislative Budget committees,” said Rep. Cockerham. “Speaker Gunn has continuously proven that he is a technician when it comes to achieving a balanced budget and a visionary for economic development. My goals, as a member of these two committees, will be to collaborate with my colleagues as we continue work to find solutions to the major issues that face our constituents and the citizens of Mississippi.

“I am mindful of the many cost issues we are faced with like education, healthcare, and corrections to name a few,” she continued. “As House Energy Chair, I am excited about our country and state's energy future and the impact it is having on my district in Southwest Mississippi. I will approach my new assignments with God at the center of my thought process and the humbleness that my parents remind me of daily.”

Mayor Chokwe Lumumba at today's special meeting of the Jackson City Council put forth a $502.5 million budget proposal, which represents a 43.3 percent increase in spending over last year's budget of $350.8 million, to be funded by rate increases on water and sewer services and a return of "overfunding" for Jackson Public Schools.

"This can has been kicked down the road for years," Lumumba said. "I don't see the point in kicking it any farther."

The "can" Lumumba referred to is an aging sewer system, a consent decree from the Environmental Protection Agency that calls for $400 million to be spent over the next 18 years, drainage issues and street repair needs that far outpace the budget allocated to fix them. Lumumba admits his new plan won't solve those problems either, but the first-term mayor assured the council and crowd of approximately 50 that his plan is "a step in that direction."

The budget increases a handful of departments by a small percentage, but, under the plan, Public Works would grow by a whopping $22 million to a total of $398 million.

So, how's the city going to pay for it?

If the budget is passed as-is, the average rate for water will increase from $15/mo. to around $21/mo. and the average rate for sewer will shoot from $14.50/mo. to just over $31/mo., according to the Lumumba. For people who can't afford that increase, the city will set aside a special fund - the Vulnerable Peoples Fund - that the mayor said will have $175,000 in it to help people with fixed income.

City Finance Department Spokesman Rick Hill said that increase will produce a little more than $30 million in additional revenue for the city. In addition, Lumumba said 5.53 mills that were never supposed to be allocated to Jackson Public Schools will account for an additional $6.4 million to balance the budget.

The city council has a couple of weeks to research and respond to the mayor's proposal, and a public hearing has been set for 6 p.m., Sept. 5, at City Hall for citizens to weigh in.

Stay tuned!

Today, Tate Reeves addressed the 40th annual confab of the American Legislative Exchange Council in Chicago.

In praising ALEC, Reeves took a shot at venerated Mississippi columnist Bill Minor.

Reeves said:

"Well, a few months ago he decided to attack ALEC," he said of Minor. "You see – Mr. Minor doesn’t believe legislators from around the country should gather to share ideas on how government can get out of the way so businesses can grow. Even more sinister, legislators also listen to businessmen and women on ways to add jobs and raise the personal income of our constituents.

Know that Steve (Seale) wasted no time in setting Mr. Minor straight on ALEC’s purpose – to act as a “forum for lawmakers to share ideas, grow a stronger Democracy and help make government work more efficiently and effectively.”

For the uninitiated, ALEC is like an Obamacare health-care exchange for conservative legislation. It's where conservative lawmakers shop for conservative legislation to earn political support of conservative voters.

Here's a press release from Reeves' office, which includes the full text of his speech:

MISSISSIPPI WORKS TO STRENGTHEN BUSINESS CLIMATE, LT. GOV. REEVES TELLS LEGISLATORS, BUSINESS OWNERS

CHICAGO – Mississippi is open for business and seeing success in attracting more jobs, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves told a crowd of legislators from around the country at the 40th Annual Meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council.

Lt. Gov. Reeves recounted legislative successes to grow businesses and reform education at the closing lunch with economist Dr. Arthur Laffer, who was member of President Reagan’s Economic Policy Advisory Board. Because Lt. Gov. Reeves was a featured speaker, ALEC funded his trip, and no taxpayer dollars were spent. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad also spoke at the meeting.

“With every bill that crosses my desk … I ask ‘Does this help the private sector grow and create jobs for Mississippians?’” Lt. Gov. Reeves told the audience. “That’s the approach we’ve tried in Mississippi. It’s working.”

In ALEC’s Rich States, Poor States report, Mississippi earned the 10th best economic outlook of all the states. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis ranked the state’s GDP growth rate 17th in the nation after the economy grew 2.4 percent in 2012.

Lt. Gov. Reeves cited the 2012 updates to the workers compensation law, the $150 million tax break on inventory costs for small business and the Attorney General Sunshine Act as ways Mississippi is improving the business climate. He also spoke of education reform efforts in 2013 to provide students with a better opportunity for success.

“We can’t have a strong business climate without a strong workforce,” Lt. Gov. Reeves said. “And we can’t have a strong workforce without better education. It’s a simple formula, and one Mississippi has to master.”

Text of Lt. Gov. Reeves’ speech:

ALEC 2013 – Closing Lunch

I appreciate the privilege of speaking to you today. Appearing on the same …

"We are all Tater Tots," Reeves said.