Mike Pepper, Executive Director of the Mississippi Road Builders Association spoke to the Rotary Club of North JACKSON at the Club’s September 18, 2018, meeting. The subject of his talk was the condition of Mississippi's roads & bridges and the results of the 2018 special legislative session to address infrastructure issues. He summarized by saying that Mississippi needs $350-400 million annually to address the transportation infrastructure issues. The legislature approved an estimated $200.million annually from a lottery, the proceeds from internet sales taxes, and a portion of the BP oil spill settlement proceeds. According to Mr. Pepper, this is a start, albeit, a tenuous one. What is really needed in his judgment is an increase in the gasoline tax and a tax on electric vehicles that use the infrastructure.
Mr. Pepper showed photos of failed bridges in the state. Rotarians will remember that many bridges in the state were recently closed due to their failed state. The photos clearly made the intended point. Mr. Pepper is shown in the following photo during his talk. We thank him for his presentation to our club and for his service to Mississippi.
