DeSoto County, MS—
FAST FACTS:
- DeSoto Expects Millions in Federal Stimulus Dollars
- Governor Barbour Considers Refusing at Least Part of it
- DeSoto Administrator - State Should Take as Much as Possible
(DeSoto County, MS 2/23/2009) Millions of dollars in federal stimulus money may be headed to the mid-south, but there's a chance some of it may never make it.
Mississippi's Governor is among some who say they may not take all the money from the stimulus plan.
Local leaders had been hoping for LOTS of money to spend on projects to put people to work and benefit everyone in DeSoto County, but now that picture has become cloudy with concerns from the State's Governor.
Monica Turnmire says there's a need for unemployment money in Mississippi. She's concerned about the Governor saying he might turn that money down. "I don't think that's a good idea at all. I've been out of a job for a while now off and on and the jobs I do get are to close the department or close the whole entire office." she explained.
Others agree. "To be honest I think it'll hurt the economy quite a bit due to the job situation." said Benjamin Woods of Southaven.
But Governor Barbour says taking unemployment money would force him to make changes that could HURT job creation down the road. "This is not about whether or non we're going to take money to build roads. This is about whether we're going to change policy to what the left wants and then have to raise taxes on our employers to do it." said the Mississippi Republican.
DeSoto Administrator Michael Garriga says he hopes the Governor at least takes money meant to build roads and repair bridges, which are at the top of DeSoto's list of needs. "I think their concerns are valid but at the same time, if money is available, especially in Mississippi we should take advantage of it." said Garriga.
He was expecting 22-24 million but says now it'll probably only about to 10 percent of that. "That's 2 to 2 1/2 million dollars we wouldn't have gotten anyway, so we're going to accept it."
That is, IF the Governor signs off on it. For now, it looks like he will. "I think we need all the help we can get." said Turnmire.
Then there's the issue of WHEN that money might get here. Congressman Travis Childers says it'll be on the way soon, but Garriga and others worry the debate could complicate matters locally.
