Video: Starkville Aldermen Pass Industrial Park/ Intent for General Obligation Bonds

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – (WCBI) Starkville aldermen intend to issue $3 million dollars in bonds to pay for major capital improvements after a 5-2 vote.

Tuesday night’s vote is the first step to approving the general obligation bonds.

Their idea is to use the money to offer city employees a raise, repave streets and sidewalks, improve drainage, and address the many funding issues plaguing the Starkville Police Department. Two million dollars would be allocated to that project under tonight’s decision, whether they choose to buy the Cadence Bank building or not. A 3% raise for all city employees is also listed in the deal.

The idea is to pump more money into projects, so that economic development and growth is fueled.
Assuming no protest, the city can issue the bonds in the next 120 days.

In a 6-1 vote, leaders also joined Oktibbeha County in issuing up to $10 million dollars in bonds to build a joint industrial park. The money will pay for infrastructure, a two- or- four-lane road, landscaping and other amenities in the 326-acre Innovation District near the intersection of Highways 25 and 182 on the west side of Starkville.

Work could begin this summer. The Golden Triangle Development Link has said the property could become home to as much as a million square feet of high-tech industry space employing as many as 1,300 people.