GREENVILLE, Miss.–You may be getting a little relief in your personal budget if you live in Greenville. Mayor Errick Simmons announced this week that the city is getting a federal grant that will help cover some much-needed wastewater repairs. The city will receive about $13.2 million, as part of a funding bill passed by Congress.
Tunica County will get $6 million as part of the same act.
At Tuesday’s council meeting it was asked what the money may be used for. Those details have not yet been worked out with the federal government .
“Wastewater system rehabilitation,” he said, in response, “which is broad enough for us to do the necessary work.”
But, the city needs much more than that. Simmons pointed out that much work has been done already to fix “age-old” problems, but it is estimated to get everything done that should be done the city would still need $146 million.
Still the mayor said he is glad to announce the grant, for which the city will not have to put up any matching funds. As a possible added benefit, Simmons said he hopes the money will be enough to keep from having to raise sewer rates.
“We would hope this would give us a little room,” he said. “We can’t continue to tax our people to fix an age-old problem at our water treatment plant.”
