Progress has been made in the process to make $5 million available to the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority. However, there is one caveat.
Last week, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, in a whopping 28-1 vote, approved a transportation infrastructure and housing measure for Fiscal Year 2025, including funding for transportation and community development projects in Mississippi.
Part of the package given the green light by the congressional unit entailed the multi-million grant to fund a handful of crucial projects at Mississippi’s largest airport, which generates nearly $2 billion annually.
“This bill outlines specific funding to help communities and programs in Mississippi that can help improve the quality of life for our citizens. There are many needs in Mississippi, and I’ve worked to see that this bill will responsibly help meet those needs,” Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., said.
“I’m pleased the bill supports surface, air, and rail transportation projects across the state, as well as housing, workforce development, and community improvement work. There are more steps in the legislative process to go, but this is a good step forward for Mississippi.”
The next step in getting the funding sent to the JMAA is approval by the entire Senate body. Despite the near-consensus approval of the measure by the Appropriations Committee, expectations around the capitol do not expect a final spending bill to be approved ahead of the fiscal year deadline of October 1.
The FY2025 spending bill under consideration is a more than 10% increase in funding from the one offered last fiscal year. Instead of advancing it any further, it is anticipated that congressional authorities will enact a short-term spending resolution to keep current spending measures intact, not making any significant alterations until after the November elections pass.
