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