In the last week, I attended several meetings on making investments for the future and solid long-term projects which always make for big improvements. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann had a town hall meeting in Greenwood that I attended on Monday. This is the third that I have attended the lieutenant governor has held in the last couple of years. They are always very informative. Last week, he gave an overview of the upcoming legislative session. The discussion of the 2023 legislative session includes planning to stabilize our healthcare system and grow their workforce in the future. Lt. Gov. Hosemann has been strongly encouraging municipalities to apply for a match for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for water and sewer improvements. These decisions will reap generational benefits.
Also, last week was the Mississippi Municipal League Mid-Winter Legislative Conference, and during the conference was the MML board of directors meeting.
MML legislative priorities for the 2023 session that includes funding of the small municipalities grant program, full funding of homestead exemption reimbursements, grant/revolving loan fund for cleaning abandoned/menace property, additional funds for municipalities from remaining ARPA fund, $100 million for the emergency road and bridge repair fund, and authority for joint or multi- jurisdiction debris removal contracts partnership with Mississippi Association of Supervisors.
There are a lot of opportunities that will benefit communities across this state for generations and working together is very important. In North Carrollton, for example, we have a great working relationship with the Carroll County Board of Supervisors, and it has helped our improvement efforts tremendously. That has included infrastructure and tourism efforts. Looking to the future of working together, our local communities have opportunities to make investments that will generate positive investments for decades of reaching full potential.
Ken Strachan serves as the mayor of North Carrollton, a member of the Mississippi Municipal League board of directors, and is the MML education chairman.
