Economic leaders in Mississippi are discussing the need for state infrastructure improvements in the wake of state lawmakers failing to find adequate funding. As MPB's Mark Rigsby reports, they met at the state's largest gathering for business in Jackson this week.
The buzz at the Mississippi Economic Council's annual conference was about transportation, more specifically the importance of making improvements to roads and bridges to help business. The MEC says investments in transportation are vital grow the state economy. The group's executive vice president, Scott Waller, say he's optimistic the state legislature will do something, but there's no right answer on how to fund it.
The MEC's 2015 study says it will take $375 million to maintain the state's infrastructure system.
Former MEC chairman Tom Gresham is in favor of raising fees, like the gasoline tax, for the sake of economic growth. He's president of Double Quick convenience stores in Northwest Mississippi.
Gresham and Waller say they hope state lawmakers tackle the infrastructure issue during the special session this summer.
