Municipal ordinance for granting of utility franchies or use of streets; remove municipal electorate approval of.
Impact
By removing the requirement for voter approval on ordinances pertaining to utility franchises, HB841 could facilitate quicker and potentially less contentious approval processes for municipalities. This change might encourage new businesses and utilities to enter a municipality, as the process would no longer require community voting, which can be time-consuming and uncertain. Proponents of this change argue that such a shift will allow municipalities to respond more dynamically to utility needs and infrastructure development.
Summary
House Bill 841 seeks to amend Section 21-13-3 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, whereby it proposes the elimination of the requirement for municipal ordinances that grant utility franchises or rights to use certain public streets to be approved by a majority of qualified voters in the municipality. The bill also aims to remove the necessity for certain ordinances to be read by the municipal clerk prior to their passage by governing authorities. This legislative move is intended to streamline the process by which municipalities can grant utilities and other rights within their jurisdiction.
Contention
However, the bill presents concerns among certain stakeholders who argue that it undermines local democracy and community involvement. Critics fear that it may lead to decisions being made without adequate input from the residents who will be affected by these ordinances. There are worries that this could empower municipal authorities to make decisions favoring corporate interests over the needs and desires of the community, particularly in instances where local input is crucial to the allocation of public resources and infrastructure development.