Top Mississippi lawmakers said Saturday that they have agreed on a bond package of nearly $250 million to finance several projects.Other members of the House and Senate were haggling over details of a nearly $6 billion state budget for the year that begins July 1.
The bond package includes $50 million to replace some local bridges, said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Joey Fillingane, a Republican from Sumrall.
The package also has $82.5 million for universities, $25 million for community colleges, $40 million for the state Department of Finance and Administration and $45 million to help Ingalls Shipbuilding, said Fillingane and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jeff Smith, a Republican from Columbus.
They told The Associated Press that the bond package would also provide money for loan programs — $5 million for small cities and counties, $1 million for sewer projects and $1 million for water projects.
Emily Wagster Pettus, Associated Press
3/24/2018