JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
The president of the Hinds County Board of Supervisors, Robert Graham, cannot understand why the largest county in the state is not getting more road money than much smaller surrounding counties.
"We are very concerned that counties that are surrounding Hinds County, that are smaller counties, are receiving more transportation dollars than we are. The reason why we are not receiving transportation dollars is not because of a lack of trying," said Graham.
"Why are we seeing more road monies spent in Madison and Rankin County than we are seeing spent in Hinds County and Jackson? Well you really don't if you are talking about the interstate system," said Central District Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall. "We are adding lanes, certainly in Madison County to I-55. We are adding lanes to I-20 coming in from Rankin County. We are adding lanes on I-20 from the west, coming from the Clinton area. And after the first of the year, we are taking bids on coming in from Terry."
Hall says projects like the widening of Old Fannin Road in Rankin County and the reconstruction of Fortification Street in Jackson are what is known as "earmark" projects and Congress has cut out all earmarks.
Hall says there is absolutely no discrimination against Hinds County and Jackson.
"In fact. of course, there are no more earmarks. The Congress has ended earmarks. A self-imposed rule that they said we are not having earmarks anymore."
"He is correct in saying that, but the money is still there, the money is still coming down to the state through the Department of Transportation," said Graham.
Graham says the county has hired an attorney, Barry Howard, to try to get more road money for the county.
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