Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Wednesday morning, Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann joined state and local officials at the Jackie Dole Sherrill Community Center in Downtown Hattiesburg to give an update following the 2023 legislative session.

Specifically, Lt. Governor Hosemann reported on the Mississippi Legislature’s unprecedented investments in infrastructure, which included:

• A one-to-one state match for cities and counties that used their federal ARPA funds on water, sewer and stormwater projects
• Additional funding of MDOT transportation capacity projects
• $100 million for the Emergency Road & Bridge Replacement program

Hosemann congratulated the Hattiesburg Public School District, Petal School District, Forrest County School District, Lamar County School District and Forrest County Agricultural High School for each achieving an “A” rating. He touted $100 million more in funding for Mississippi’s public schools and the past two teacher pay raises, which puts Mississippi’s teacher salaries above both Alabama and Arkansas.

He also recognized the House and Senate’s fiscal leadership. The state has paid off more than $500 million in debt while not borrowing any money over the past two years. He stated that Mississippi was in the best financial shape in its history.

Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker saluted the Lt. Governor’s leadership in empowering local communities. “Delbert Hosemann has been someone whose vision has made Mississippi a national leader in infrastructure, particularly with the ARPA matching grant program,” said Barker. “Hattiesburg’s $12.8 million allocation from the state will be leveraged into over $20 million for sewer, water and stormwater investments that will last generations.”

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