The primary objective of the Three Rivers Planning and Development District (TRPDD) was the formulation of an overall economic development plan for the district. The report noted that it was a nonprofit organization and that ten planning and development districts served Mississippi. The Three Rivers District encompassed Calhoun, Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, and Union counties. The planning and development districts were funded mainly by federal grants and in practice were largely autonomous. However, they were created by state statutes and executive order of the Governor, and so were subject to state level control.
The financial records of the TRPDD were audited by a CPA who monitored its basic grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. No audits were made by any CPA or agency or any other grants received by Three Rivers. Neither the federal government nor the state provided effective control over Three Rivers or any of the ten planning and development districts.
In addition, PEER auditors found that two employees at Three Rivers during the past two years received excessively large salaries. The Executive Director also appeared to have been receiving improper payments.
For a paper copy of this report, contact PEER by telephone at 601-359-1226 or by e-mail at reports@peer.ms.gov.