STATE 2018
THE COUNTY
OF
State of the County Outline
• Finances
• 2016-2018 Highlights
• 2016-2018 Capital Projects
• BP Funding in Hancock County
• FY 2019 Priorities
County Finances
County Finances
Assessed Value
$524 Million
Value of a Mill
$515,000
Proposed General Fund Budget
$22.1 Million FY19
General Fund Cash Balance
Total Tax Levy 49.01
County Finances
• County collected outstanding fund
balances, settlements, etc. gaining an surplus over $3M to general fund. Board opted to invest in 36 month
low risk investments in accordance with 31-19-5, 19-9-29 and 27-105-33 in hopes of yielding additional capital
project funds during next term.
General Fund 6 Year Mill Values
• 2012 - $453,000 • 2013 - $447,000 • 2014 - $472,000 • 2015 - $474,000 • 2016 - $490,000 • 2017 - $504,000 • 2018 - $515,000
• Only 12 out of 82 counties in
Mississippi are showing growth in value
• 6th Fastest growing county in population
2016-2018 Highlights
Workforce Development
PRCC Workforce Campus has been top project for County for RESTORE and need for Gulf Coast Metro Area and anticipate funding for 2019.
Became ACT Workforce
Certified Community in 2017
Healthcare
Established 25 year lease/sale with Ochsner Medical to generate $850K annually and $500K in capital outlay annually
$7.5M Bond that was due January 2020 paid off by Trustees
Community Development
Agreed to revise 1991
Inter-local Library agreement to expand programs and save annual tax levy for local governments
Revised Community Education Program with School Districts to rebrand and expand courses
Veterans Banner Program & Beach Arts Project Partner
2016-2018 Highlights Road & Bridges
Implemented $3 Million dollar road paving plan using bond & gaming funds
Was first county to partner with cities for complete evaluation of all 550 miles of roadway
Completed repairs and construction of at least eight structurally deficient bridges in past three years
Economic Development
Adopted county’s first Industrial and Commercial Incentive Policy
Qualified two census tracts in Hancock County for Opportunity Zones under Federal Incentive Package
Quality of Life
McLeod Park Expansion Constructed New Sports
Complex Proposed New Arena
Master Plan to feature a unique venue for Mississippi Gulf Coast
2016-2018 Highlights
County Court
Opted to create a county court in November 2017 with a start date of January 2018.
Governor Bryant appointed Judge Trent Favre to be first county court judge.
Hancock had highest per capita amount of children in DHS custody prior to county court, year to date numbers have shown children in system decreased from 389 to 198 (48%).
Building Departments
Adopted plan to enhance Building Department Insurance Rating from an 8 to 6 to reduce insurance costs on new residential and commercial construction
Began process to become a FEMA CRS community to help reduce National Flood Insurance Program premiums in coastal floodplains in Hancock County
Public Safety
Replaced expiring debt service bond with new short term bond to allow renovation at Courthouse. Improvements will enhance security and access per Grand Jury recommendations.
Working with School Districts on providing additional funding for SRO officers in our public schools per Grand Jury recommendations.
Improved funding for patrol vehicles per reports.
2016-2018 Highlights
GOMESA
Received $1.05M and state received $22.7M in April 2018 from first settlement funds from GOMESA
Working with DMR, MDEQ, MDA and Governor Bryant on evaluating projects
Working with DWFP to partner for funding the $8M master plan for Buccaneer State Park
Tourism
Worked with Legislature in 2018 to allow Hancock County to financially contribute to the Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau to ensure Hancock County is partnering with other counties.
Working to place proper corridor signage to enhance visibility for visitors per Hancock Tomorrow Strategic Plan
Utility & Fire Districts
Conducted feasibility study for our rural fire departments on how we can reduce fire ratings and provide more coverage to rural areas to reduce insurance premiums
Discussed study on our rural utility districts and cities on efficiency of consolidation to stabilize water and sewer rates
2016-2018 Highlights
Employees
Revised employee handbooks to match state employee benefits
Budgeted for employee cost of living adjustments for two consecutive years
Adopted new health benefits to provide better premiums and copays
Creation of IT Department to enhance internal and external services
Transparency
Enhanced software and agenda and minutes capabilities to ensure public can access proper documents dating to 1975
Revised our logo and
website to offer more documents and information online and established social media presence
Budgeted to live stream
meetings in 2018
Solid Waste Services
Enhanced collection services for unincorporated areas with large garbage bins
Created reimbursement recycling fund similar to road and bridge for city recycling
MDEQ Household Hazardous Waste Day $60,000 Grant
BRE DATA 2016 - 2018
2,599
$400,035,000
58 90
Expansions will add
Companies
plan to expand
companies have
been interviewed
will go into expansions 4,850
combined EMPLOYEES
last three years,
511 jobs have been
added new jobs
Hancock County, MS has… Population: 46,791 Employment: 17,980
Unemployment Rate: 5%
State and National average are: 4.6%
Labor Force: 18,920
2016-2018 Capital Projects Total 9 Bridge Replacements and Funding Spent ($3,265,000)
Total Tidelands Funds Spent $1,170,000 (McLeod Expansion & Boat Launches)
State Aid Paving 2016-2018 $315,000
LPA Funding for Road Safety Improvements $850,000
Waveland Lighthouse- GOMESA, Seawall $900,000
MDOT Intersection Improvements (Texas Flat, Hwy 43, Kiln-Delisle) CDBG $2.2M
Courthouse Repairs & Security Upgrades- $1M GO Bond
Corridor Welcome Signs (Exit 2, Hwy 43, Hwy 53, Waveland & Bay St. Louis)
8 New Playgrounds from Gaming $240,000
Beach Parking Improvements at Lakeshore and Coleman Ave.- Seawall $600,000
CIAP $5,587,000- Cedar Point Boat Launch, Rocky Hill and Lakeshore Parks,
Ansley/Lakeshore Sewer Project
Federal Highway Grant- Beach Boulevard Pedestrian Pathway (Lakeshore)
GRPC Phase 1 & Phase 2 Road Safety Improvements (16 locations) $825,900
GRPC ADA Pedestrian Access Improvements Washington Street $300,000
FY 2019 Capital Projects
• Port Bienville Industrial Park $25,993,716 total
Linea dock restoration - $9.2M
Transloading dock - $8.7M
Dredging of industrial canal - $6.2M
• Port Bienville Railroad $2,304,960 total
Replacement of 3 Locomotives - $1M
Straight Leg Siding - $500k
New Warehouse Spur - $500k
• Stennis International Airport $15,871,387 total
Spaceport Licensing - $5.3M
2 hangars - $5.2M
Wayfinding & Signage - $500k
BP Funding by Legislature
2016-2018
16
Year Legislative Projects Funded Total BP Funds Hancock Projects
2016 15 $38,450,000.00 1
2017 3 $9,500,000.00 0
2018 128 $111,393,000.00 1
Totals 146 $159,343,000.00 2
Hancock Projects
SB2002 had only one project for project for $500K and no cities received funding while $111M was appropriated
PRCC received $1M in funding in 2016 towards a Hancock County campus
Hancock must propose high ROI and unique projects for consideration of Restoration Funds over next fifteen years
We have received only 1% of total projects and funds approved to date
BP Legislative
Appropriations
Hancock County
Projects
FY 2019 Board Priorities
• Update Road Plan & $1M Pavement
Capital
• GOMESA Priorities (Pier 5 & Buccaneer)
• Community Development
• Arena Master Plan Funding
• Comprehensive Drainage Study
• Public/Private Partnerships McLeod Park