Winston County Supervisors were in a feisty mood on Tuesday,
June 20, 2017 when they met to handle a number of issues. Several Supervisors
attended the recent Ms. Association of Supervisors Convention held in Biloxi
and came away with concerns about state funding. Board President Luke Parkes indicated
that he came away from the convention more concerned than ever about state cuts
to funding while at the same time – mandating counties to provide services.
Parkes said, “Unfunded mandates have placed a heavy burden on counties. There
has been little change in state aid assistance for roads in a long time. We’re
not asking for a lot, they keep promising but they won’t do it. The public
needs to see what’s happening.” Parkes noted that funding had either been cut
or not fully funded for schools, roads and libraries and that the state keeps
handing these things to the county without funding.
Supervisor Marion Jordan also commented on funding
situations as the cost keeps going up on mental and drug commitments and there
is nowhere to place these individuals. “Without funding these folks are back on
the street because we can’t find a bed or treatment for them. There is a lot
more involved here than just roads.”
Supervisor Ralph Goss noted that in the last legislative
general session, the Supervisor’s Association asked the legislature to increase
state gas taxes by two cents with one cent staying in the county and the other
pooled for use as needed across the state. Goss indicated that those two cents
would have helped the counties tremendously.
Supervisors across the state have been dealing with budget cuts for state agencies and services and reduced funding assistance for services required to be provided at the county level.
