For 16 years, Hollandale accountant Buck Clarke represented Mississippi Senate District 22.
He served on several committees including the Senate Appropriations Committee where he was chairman. Doling out state and federal dollars was a huge responsibility.
Now serving as Secretary of the Senate, Clarke has his ear on what happens in the Mississippi Legislature. Federal money has flooded the state’s coffers this past year.
The former senator was the guest speaker at the Indianola Rotary Club on November 16 and updated the members and guests on just what the state has. He didn’t have on his familiar brown jacket from his political ads but he did bring his quick wit and knowledge.
“We are awash with money right now. My eight years as Appropriations Chairman I learned when you have a lot of money, it’s fun but it’s hard work. If there’s no money there’s no work,” Clarke said. “All the money you’ve seen come from the federal government and there’s a new infrastructure bill that just got signed and that’s on top of the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) and the CARES Act – the state got $1.8 billion and all the cities, towns and counties got about $900 million (Indianola got $1.1 million and Inverness got $106,000).”
Clarke explained that Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann has asked all of the cities and counties about their infrastructure needs and is looking to help with matching funds from the state. He noted that State Auditor Shad White warned everyone to be careful spending federal dollars and make sure it’s actually infrastructure. He explained the federal government’s inspector general will be keeping a close watch and tally on the funds.
“These are federal dollars and there are rules out there but they are vague,” Clarke said. “But this is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. We’re going to have to be smart.”
Clarke and others have been asking surrounding states on how they are doling out their dollars to learn as much as they can.
“We ended the fiscal year on June 30th with $1.1 billion more than we projected to spend. Since the end of June, we’ve experienced $50 million to 60 million a month and that $1.1 billion is sitting in the bank. Half of that money will be used with capital expense money. Projects where we go to colleges and universities and fix roofs, fix air conditioners and we don’t have to go borrow 30-year money for those projects. Our rainy day fund is full at its cap level of $600 million and that’s over and above that $1.1 billion.”
There are income tax proposals to eliminate state income tax, one plan from the legislature and one by the governor. But there are no current plans coming out of the senate.
In covering the lottery money, he explained that $80 million goes to roads and bridges and every dollar over that goes to education. As of July 20th, the Mississippi Lottery Corporation completed its final transfer to the state for FY21, bringing the total to $138,961,541.14
“The lottery has been a big success. Our gaming people do a really good job. We have a good board,” he said.
