An Expenditure Review of the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District, FY 2001-FY 2010
Executive Summary
Introduction
Since the historic flood in the spring of 1979, five major flood control plans for the Jackson metropolitan area have been introduced, but governmental entities have not reached an agreement on implementation for a plan.
Following PEER’s report entitled A Review of Flood Control Options for the Jackson Metropolitan Area, 1979-2010 (Report #540; October 12, 2010), legislators raised additional questions regarding the funds spent by the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District pertaining to determining a flood control solution as well as the expenditures on past studies that have yet to yield an implemented plan.
Specifically, this report addresses the following for fiscal years 2001 through 2010:*
When reviewing flood control expenditures, PEER did not determine whether services were obtained at the lowest and best price.
This report neither renders an opinion as to the environmental, economic, or hydraulic feasibility of any project discussed nor offers a preference for any flood control proposal mentioned.
Conclusions
Flood control is carried on in a complex political and legal environment involving entities at the state, local, and federal level. Several entities at each level have been involved in the process of flood control planning for the Jackson metropolitan area since the 1979 flood. While initially two state agencies, the Pearl River Basin Development District and the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, exercised the most control over the planning, in 2001 the majority of the authority shifted to the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District. This district established the LeFleur Lakes Development Foundation in 2006 to assist with funding.
The Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District has operated within its budget for the past ten years. Revenues generated from Rankin and Hinds counties’ millage have been spent toward the operation and upkeep of levees and flood control measures in the area, as well as for studies to support the implementation of a comprehensive flood control plan.
From 2001 to 2010, both the district and the foundation entered contracts on behalf of the LeFleur Lakes Project. The two main engineering contracts include the Economic Impact Study and the Feasibility Study. Several legal contracts were entered into with Watkins, Ludlam, Winter & Stennis to provide services in connection with grant money received by the foundation and general LeFleur Lakes affairs of the district.
Between FY 2001 and FY 2010, the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District expended $1,929,453.82 in search of a politically, technically, hydraulically, and environmentally feasible flood control plan for the Jackson metropolitan area. While ideally implementation of a plan years ago could have eliminated the need for these funds to be expended, the funds used are appropriate for an entity charged with such a task, especially given the political, legal, and environmental obstacles a flood control plan faces.
Recommendations
PEER finds no cause to make any additions or modifications to the recommendation found in its previous report A Review of Flood Control Options for the Jackson Metropolitan Area, 1979-2010 (Report #540), which states:
In view of the complex regulatory environment, as well as the likely need for future legislation on the subject of flood control district authority, the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District should report by December 31 of each year to the Secretary of the Senate, the Clerk of the House, and the PEER Committee on any actions it has taken or progress toward completion of a comprehensive flood control program for the Jackson metropolitan area.
* Fiscal year references in this report are to the fiscal years of the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District. Fiscal years for the district run from October 1-September 30.