Mississippi Senate Bill SB3217

Mississippi 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/3/24
• Refer: 4/3/24
• Failed: 5/14/24

Caption

Rankin County Stormwater Management Agency; authorize the establishment of.

Impact

Once created, the agency will have the authority to develop a comprehensive stormwater management plan that must be completed within 24 months of its establishment. Furthermore, it will impose annual utility charges on landowners based on their contribution to stormwater accumulation. While this utility charge aims to fund the agency's operations, it also allows landowners to object to the amount imposed, ensuring a mechanism for public accountability and involvement in the agency's financial decision-making processes.

Summary

Senate Bill 3217 aims to establish the Rankin County Stormwater Management Agency, designed to effectively manage stormwater and drainage issues within Rankin County, Mississippi. The bill recognizes the significant challenges posed by stormwater accumulation and runoff, which have led to damage to infrastructure and posed risks to public safety. By forming this agency, local government authorities aim to take a proactive and cohesive approach to stormwater management across municipal and county boundaries, taking into account the unique geographical and administrative contexts of the area, particularly due to the unincorporated nature of many parts of the county that are densely populated.

Contention

Debate surrounding SB3217 may center on the provisions for utility charges and the authority granted to the agency. Some may view the imposition of these charges as a potential burden to property owners, especially in economically challenged areas, while others argue it is essential for maintaining and upgrading vital drainage infrastructure in the face of increasingly severe weather patterns. Moreover, the agency will operate under a legal framework that emphasizes local control but also establishes a centralized body that could raise concerns about the balance between local autonomy and regional management authority.