Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Blight Cleanup Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate advances grant program to clean up tax-forfeited, blighted properties
Summary
The Mississippi Senate advanced a conference report creating a grant framework administered by the Mississippi Home Corporation that would allow municipalities to seek up to 15 grants per city to clean up tax-forfeited properties, with each grant capped at $2,000; the program is an enabling measure that requires future appropriations.
The Mississippi Senate moved forward a conference report establishing a municipal grant program intended to help clean up tax‑forfeited and blighted properties held by the state.
The conference report, explained on the floor by the bill sponsor, creates a framework under which each municipality may apply for up to 15 grants per year capped at $2,000 per grant. The measure gives Jackson an additional authority through a nonprofit—Jackson Redevelopment Authority—to pursue supplemental grants because the city has a higher concentration of such properties.
The bill’s sponsor said the program is “an enabling legislation” and contains no appropriation; any funds would be provided only if the legislature or other appropriators place money in the account. “If appropriations chooses to put any money,” he said, “this is the framework.” Senator McMahon explained the bill and moved adoption of the conference report.
Senators asked how the program would work in practice. Senator Jordan asked whether the grants were prorated by municipal population; McMahon replied every municipality is eligible for the same number of grants regardless of size so that “every city in the state [is] treated equally.” Senator Hill clarified the measure only establishes the program and that appropriations must provide funds. Senator Seymour and others confirmed the grants apply only to property held by the Secretary of State—tax‑forfeited property—not to privately owned property.
Senators also questioned administrative details. The bill instructs the Mississippi Home Corporation to promulgate rules and allows it to set operational priorities, including prioritization of applications and a maximum grant amount consistent with the $2,000 per‑project cap. Lawmakers discussed concerns about first‑come, first‑served awards and whether recipients this year could be prioritized or deprioritized in later funding rounds; the sponsor encouraged members to work with representatives on the Mississippi Home Corporation board about rules to ensure equitable distribution.
The floor discussion emphasized that roughly 4,000 properties are held by the Secretary of State and that a $1 million appropriation would address roughly 550 properties, indicating the program is intended as a step toward larger-scale remediation if funds are provided. The conference report passed by roll‑call request on the Senate floor.
The measure does not appropriate money, does not create loans, and contains specific guardrails limiting grant awards to properties certified as tax‑forfeited and declared blighted by municipal authorities.
If appropriations later provides funds, the Mississippi Home Corporation will be responsible for administering grants and establishing application and prioritization procedures.
