House Bill 1697

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CHICKASAWHAY NATURAL GAS DISTRICT TO EXPEND CERTAIN FUNDS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS WITHIN THE DISTRICT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE FUNDS SHALL BE DISBURSED TO THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE WITHIN THE DISTRICT FOR SUCH REPAIRS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The Board of Directors of the Chickasawhay Natural Gas District, may, in its discretion, expend an amount not to exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) annually from its general fund solely for infrastructure repairs and improvements within the district.

(2) The expenditure of funds, authorized under subsection (1) of this section, shall be based on the percentage of current square miles within each city's or town's corporate limits, as the case may be, within the district. The funds expended under this section shall be used solely for infrastructure repairs and improvements within the district. The division of the expenditures for each municipality shall be as follows:

(a) The City of Waynesboro (6.6 square miles).. 44.30%;

(b) The City of Quitman (5.9 square miles)..... 39.60%; and

(3) Accounting of expenditures of the funds herein described shall be made separately from the accounting of receipts and expenditures of the general fund and any other funds of the Chickasawhay Natural Gas District. The records reflecting the receipts and expenditures of the funds prescribed in this section shall be audited annually by an independent certified public accountant, and the accountant shall make a written report of his audit to the board of directors. The audit shall be made and completed as soon as practicable after the close of the fiscal year, and expenses of the audit shall be paid from the general funds of the district.

(4) The expenditures authorized in this section are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other authority granted to the district under any other provision of law.

(5) This section shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2020.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.