Hancock County supervisors on Monday voted unanimously to publish a notice of intent to issue general obligation debt not to exceed $12,000,000 to fund the county's portion of a beach renourishment project.

The action spreads a resolution of intent and a preliminary timeline on the minutes and authorizes hiring outside bond professionals and the South Mississippi Planning and Development District (SMPDD) to assist with the financing work. The board recorded the vote as 5-0.

Why it matters: the county expects the overall shoreline project to cost roughly $30 million, and officials said Hancock County has a roughly 30% obligation for the local share under contracts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the borrowed amount is intended to cover the county's share. The board approved both the resolution of intent to proceed with the Mississippi Development Bank and a motion to retain professionals to structure the financing.

Board procedure and next steps: supervisors moved to spread the resolution on the minutes and to publish the statutorily required notice of intent. The board also authorized staff to hire bond counsel and related professionals and to proceed with the Mississippi Development Bank process. The motions were moved and seconded by supervisors representing districts as recorded in the minutes, and each motion carried 5-0.

What the board recorded: the formal steps taken at the meeting were (1) an amendment to the agenda to include the resolution and hiring of professionals, (2) a motion to authorize hiring bond professionals (moved by Supervisor, District 5; second by Supervisor, District 3) and (3) a motion to approve the resolution declaring the board's intention to issue up to $12,000,000 and to publish a notice of intent (moved by Supervisor, District 4; second by Supervisor, District 5). Both motions passed unanimously.

Funding and oversight: county staff stated the financing would be arranged in coordination with SMPDD and with oversight related to the Mississippi Development Bank sale or loan structure. Officials did not set a final borrowing amount or repayment schedule at the meeting; those details will be developed by the retained professionals and returned to the board for approval.

The board recorded the resolution and the hiring authorization in the minutes; publication of the notice and the formal financing documents are the next steps before any bonds or loans are issued.