Harris requests increase for museum

Kent Falkner, president of the board of directors for the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum, and curator Leona Harris approached county supervisors recently seeking an increase in funding to support the hiring of an assistant.

Board attorney Kent Smith advised that local and private legislation would have to be approved by the Mississippi Legislature.

“Can we just ask for an increase of what the board is always giving?” Harris asked.

District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor advised that any budget increase should be put in before the board of supervisors sets their new budget, which was to be completed by September 15 and takes effect October 1.

Harris said she has asked for $20,000 to hire a part-time assistant.

“We need some help as soon as possible,” she said. “We want you to increase your donation so we can go ahead and hire somebody.”

Taylor said a second Local and Private bill in the Legislature would be needed to get an increase in what the county already contributes to the museum.

“We have to get a Local and Private every year for Head Start and a yearly L&P for Northeast Mississippi Community Services,” Smith said. “The only way we can spend public funds is to get the legislators to approve it every year. State statutes don’t cover this. Local and Private just gives permission to do it.”

“They put a limit on what you can give,” said District 5 supervisor Ronnie Joe Bennett.

Taylor said the state auditor will cite the board of supervisors for violation if the board increases its donation without approval from Jackson.

“It takes permission,” Smith continued. “We have done this for the food pantry donations and do it even to give to the schools. We have to get permission. The original request and any increase requested both have to be approved by the Legislature.”

Bennett said the request for a Local and Private should go to chancery clerk Chuck Thomas’s office.

Harris asked what the time frame would be for getting in the request.

“We need to get the request,” Smith said. “Then we see if we can earmark it in January to ask the Legislature for a Local & Private.”

He said there will be many asking for Local & Private permission in the upcoming session of the Legislature since a new term begins January 1, 2020.

“We appreciate what you do and we are conscious of the fact that with Ida B. Wells, the county has made all its donations on time,” Harris said.