Gov. Tate Reeves on Monday vetoed spending recently passed by lawmakers that included a hotel redevelopment project in Tupelo, infrastructure upgrades to the Jackson Municipal Airport and upgrades to a golf course in Jackson.
“I am for infrastructure investments – as that is a core function of government,” Reeves wrote on social media. “I am NOT for spending YOUR money on golf courses.”
The Legislature recently voted to spend $253 million in cash reserves on projects around the state. These projects can come from local leaders or can be pet projects of legislators. Such bills funding up to hundreds of projects are referred to as “Christmas tree” bills.
While Reeves signed most of the spending into law, he line-item vetoed funding for seven projects. The state Constitution gives Reeves the authority to veto specific parts of appropriations bills while the rest of the bill becomes law.
The projects the governor vetoed are:
$2 million to the city of Tupelo for the Blue Suede hotel development project
$250,000 to the city of Jackson for upgrades to the Pete Brown Golf Facility
$650,000 to the CREATE Foundation to help purchase the Park Hotel building in Amory
$400,000 to the Greene County Board of Supervisors for the Deep South Machine Works expansion
$100,000 to the Hinds County Board of Supervisors for surveillance cameras and neighborhood security for Norwood, Woodlea, Valley North, Northgate and Lakeover homeowners associations
$250,000 to Stone County for improvements to the Magnolia Community Center Complex
$500,000 to the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority for infrastructure repairs and upgrades
Legislators, with a two-thirds majority vote in the House and Senate, could override the vetoes, but it’s unclear if they’ll attempt do so.
Lawmakers passed a resolution earlier this year that gave them the option to come back to the Capitol on Wednesday, but they don’t have to return if House Speaker Jason White and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann agree they should not.
Reeves also vetoed a measure that would have restored suffrage to someone who had been convicted of shoplifting and a drug charge, spending for two Gulf Coast Restoration Fund projects, a bill creating a loan program for Gulf Coast Restoration Fund projects and a measure that would have funded projects he had previously vetoed.
