When the Attala County Farm Bureau held their annual membership meeting recently, there was plenty of food and fellowship at Barrister’s Hall, along with some prize drawings and discussion of issues important to rural residents and farmers.
Guest speaker Rep. Jason White highlighted the need for improved roads and bridges, as well as plans for the Mississippi Native American Museum in downtown Kosciusko, and a potential Rails to Trails project originally raised by the Kosciusko-Attala Partnership during another recent event.
“Roads and bridges are something I’ve been passionate about because this is something I feel is important to the people of my district,” White told the group.
White said economic development depends on whether businesses believe that can get goods in and out of an area before determining new locations.
“It’s time for us to do something before it gets worse,” he said, noting that a Millsaps College study indicated that infrastructure is the number one issue for most constituents.
White said estimates for funding infrastructure needs statewide range from $350 million to $400 million per year. Though he said it is unlikely that kind of money is forthcoming, something needs to be done.
“We’ve got to spend more than we’re spending on them now. Stuff is starting to wear out,” he said. “The longer we let it go, the worse it’s going to be.”
White said one potential way to fund infrastructure is to tax internet sales and earmark those monies specifically for roads and bridges.
“We should collect retail sales tax on internet purchases. We’re fixing to start collecting that,” he said. “That would be $50 million to $100 million in Mississippi if we earmark every nickel… just for roads and bridges.”
In addition to improving existing roadways, White said getting four-lane highway access to and from Kosciusko and Attala County is critical.
“Our long-term viability depends on us getting something done on this issue,” he said.
