A bill stalled in committee that would grant authority to Clarke County to continue to contribute to the Multi – County Community Service Agency. The bill, authored by Senator Videt Carmichael, who represents Clarke County, passed the Senate (49/0) but stalled in Local and Private Committee and did not make it to the House floor for a vote.
Clarke County is one of nine counties that contribute to the non-profit agency. Clarke contributes $5,000 a year and has up to $10,000.
The Clarke County Board of Supervisors drafted a letter and resolution to legislators requesting the authority to continue contributing, as they have for many years. The letter stated that Clarke County citizens benefit from this agency and in 2016 expenditures to county residents needing assistance amounted to $499,018. Multi County Service Agency helps low income, elderly and disabled citizens with programs such as Meals on Wheels, Weatherization programs for low energy effectiveness for the homes.
The legality of contributing to the nonprofit organization came after Neshoba County Board of Supervisors sought out an opinion in 2015 from the Attorney General’s office about a county’s authority to use equipment and personnel for the nonprofit organization without statutory authorization.
The Attorney General’s opinion was that a county cannot use county employees or equipment to assist a nonprofit corporation without authorization, which is why the local boards recently requested the authority from the legislators. A 2/3 vote of the legislature would have been necessary to correct the issue so that counties can continue contributing to the agency.
The other counties (Lauderdale, Newton, Kemper, Scott and Wayne) were granted authority by the Legislature; however, Clarke County was not.
Several calls were made to the Clarke County Board of Supervisors to see why Clarke was not authorized, but were not returned at press time.
