Southaven pauses local $1 'Scribe Stoppers' assessment, places funds in escrow while city defines program

The Southaven Board of Aldermen on April 21 approved a resolution to pause the city’s $1 'Scribe Stoppers' assessment on citations while officials design the city’s own program. City Attorney Nick Manley told the board the resolution would allow the city to determine how to structure the assessment and, in the interim, have any outstanding $1 amounts held in escrow with the state Department of Public Safety.

"So at this point, what we're wanting to do in talking with the police chief is look at how we wanna structure ours," Manley said while introducing the resolution, noting that state or private legislation from a prior session had allowed jurisdictions to structure local assessments differently.

The resolution authorizes city staff to take the assessment off city-issued tickets for now and to hold outstanding assessment funds in escrow with the state until a local approach is finalized. The board moved, seconded (motion by Alderman Hoots; second by Alderman Payne) and approved the measure on roll call.

Why it matters: The change pauses a line-item assessment that had been collected on citations and sets aside the funds externally until the city adopts a local structure. Officials said the pause preserves the funds while allowing time to consult the police chief and to draft local program rules.

What’s next: Staff will work with the police department to define program structure and return with recommendations for how to implement or reestablish the assessment locally. The board’s vote carries legal and fiscal implications only after staff returns with a recommended structure for implementation.