DOCSLIB.ORG

Racial and Ethnic Tensions in American Communities: Poverty, Inequality, and Discrimination

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Racial and Ethnic Tensions in American Communities: Poverty, Inequality, and Discrimination DOCUMENT RESUME ED 457 307 UD 034 459 TITLE Racial and Ethnic Tensions in American Communities: Poverty, Inequality, and Discrimination. Volume VII: The Mississippi Delta Report. INSTITUTION Commission on Civil Rights, Washington, DC. PUB DATE 2001-02-00 NOTE 125p.; Initially drafted by Maxine G. Sharpe, Marlissa Briggett, Deborah A. Reid, and Peter Reilly. For Volume I, see ED 359 294; for Volume III, see ED 407 451; and for a related Senate hearing, see ED 407 450. PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC05 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Blacks; Elementary Secondary Education; Employment; Equal Education; Equal Opportunities (Jobs); Family Income; Farmers; Higher Education; Political Issues; *Poverty; Public Education; *Racial Bias; *Racial Discrimination; Socioeconomic Status; *Voting Rights IDENTIFIERS *Mississippi Delta; Small Farms ABSTRACT This report examines underlying causes of racial and ethnic tensions in the Mississippi Delta. It is based on sworn testimony from a public hearing, subpoenaed documents received by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and legal research. Data are provided on: equality of economic opportunity (racial factors and economic opportunity, agriculture, and black Delta farmers); race and public education; and voting rights and political representation. Significant racial disparities exist in the socioeconomic conditions of blacks and whites. Black farmers have unequal access to technical support and financial assistance. Nearly half of the lowest ranking school districts are in the Delta. Minority students are over-represented in special education. Teacher shortages exist throughout Mississippi, particularly in the poorest districts with the most minority students. Since Mississippi adopted new admissions standards by equalizing admissions requirements at four-year institutions, fewer black students have qualified for unconditional admission. Minority political participation in Mississippi has increased substantially since passage of the Voting Rights Act. Black voter registration and voting lag behind that of white citizens. Recommendations for each of the study's findings are presented. Two , appendixes describe Mississippi Delta county supervisors and black elected officials on municipal governing bodies in Mississippi. (Contains 17 tables.) (SM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. LC) / / 1 a a aI U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office ot Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 5/Thisdocument has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been Made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. February 2001 A Report of the United States Commission on Civil Rights BEST COPY AVAILABLE 0 U.S. Commission on Civii Rights The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency first established by Congress in 1957 and reestablished in 1983. It is directed to: a Investigate complaints alleging that citizens are being deprived of their right to vote by reason of their race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or by reason of fraudulent practices. o Study and collect informatiod relating to discrimination or a denial of equal protection of the laws under the Constitution because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in theadministration of justice. o Appraise Federal laws and phlicies with respect to discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws becauA of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice. a Serve as a national clearinghouse for information in respect to discrimination or denial of equal protection of the lawg because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin. Submit reports, findings, and recommendations to the President and Congress. o Issue public service announcements to discourage discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws. Members of the Commission Mary Frances Berry, Chairperson Cruz Reynoso, Vice Chairperson Christopher F. Edley, Jr. Yvonne Y. Lee Elsie M. Meeks Russell G. Redenbaugh Abigail Thernstrom Victoria Wilson Les Jin, Staff Director This report is available on diskette in ASCII and WordPerfect 5.1 for persons with visual impairments. Please call (202) 376-8110. Racial and Ethnic Tensions in American Communities: Poverty, Inequality, and Discrimination Volume VII: The Mississippi Delta Report 4 Letter of Transmittal The President The President of the Senate The Speaker of the House of Representatives Sirs: The United States Commission on Civil Rights transmits this report to you pursuant to P.L.103-419. It is the product of a three-day fact-finding hearing, sworn testimonies of nu- merous witnesses, subpoenaed data, and research. The Mississippi Delta Report is the seventh volume in a series of Commission reports on Racial and Ethnic Tensions in American Communities: Poverty, Inequality, and Discrimina- tion. The report examines underlying causes of racial and ethnic tensions in the Mississippi Delta, focusing on the areas of equality of economic opportunity, public education, and voting rights. Our recommendations are directed to the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas, and the federal government. With respect to matters under federal jurisdiction, the Commis- sion recommends that the U.S. Department of Agricultare should thoroughly investigate and resolve outstanding complaints of discriminatory treatment at local FSA offices. The agency should also work with other governmental entities to examine lending practices at area banks in rural areas to determine, document, and alleviate discriminatory lending practices, as well as institutional barriers that contribute to lengthy loan approvalmethods. Further, the agency should examine legislative initiatives which currently exist that contribute to farm foreclosure and prevent farmers from reducing their farm loan debt. The Commission also strongly recommends that the USDA resolve the backlog of civil rights complaints through the most expedient, equitable, and efficient mechanisms. The institutional factors that created the backlog should be investigated and eliminated. Finally, the Commission recommends that the USDA fully act upon its February 27, 1997, commitment to ensure that its staff is adequately trained and its complaint processing pro- cedures are adequately implemented. The Commission further recommends that the U.S. Department of Education increase its scrutiny of educational disparities in the Delta and provide adequate avenues for parents, teachers, and other concerned parties to participate in monitoring and evaluation processes. The Department should specifically ensure that nondiscriminatory polices and procedures are followed with regard to assignments to special educationclasses and disciplinary actions. The Department should require all school districts to provide civil rights compliance data on these assignments and actions. Among other recommendations, the Commission urges the Congress to increase funding for the civil rights enforcement activities for the federal agencies investigating discrimina- tion in the Mississippi Delta, to enact legislation to increase economic development in the Delta, and amend the Census Act to allow the use of statistical sampling for apportionment ia 5 purposes. We urge the executive and legislative branches of government to act upon and im- plement the recommendations in this report, and to move forward with policies designed to meet the changing needs of America's ethnically and racially diverse communities. The Com- mission hopes that this report will be a useful reference in the formulation of that strategy. Respectfully, For the Commissioners, Mary Frances Berry Chairperson iv Acknowledgments The hearing was organized by attorney-advisors Conner Ball,* Marlissa Briggett,* Deb- orah A. Reid, Peter Reilly, Miguel A. Sapp,* Maxine G. Sharpe,* and Michelle Yu,* under the general supervision of General Counsel Stephanie Y. Moore and Deputy General Counsel Edward A. Hai les, Jr. The Commission also appreciates the assistance provided by Eileen Rudert, S. Bernice Rhodes,* and Pamela Moye in preparing for the hearing. The report was initially drafted by team leader Maxine G. Sharpe and attorney-advisors Marlissa Briggett, Deborah A. Reid, and Peter Reilly under the general supervision of Gen- eral Counsel Stephanie Y. Moore. Additional assistance was provided in the final stages of the project by Kim Ball, Erik Brown,* Sicilia Chinn,* Joseph Manalili,* Joyce Smith, and Christopher Yianilos,* under the general supervision of Acting General Counsel Edward A. Hai les, Jr. Editorial policy review was performed by Robert G. Anthony, Ki-Taek Chun, and Betty Edmiston. The report was prepared for publication by Dawn Sweet. * No longer with the Commission v Contents Preface 1. Equality of Economic Opportunity 1 Race and the Economy of the Delta 1 Socioeconomic Conditions 1 Mississippi 1 Arkansas 2 Louisiana 3 Employment 4 Housing 9 Strategies to Improve Economic Opportunities 10 Local Business and Commercial Interests 10 Community-Based Nonprofit and Self-Help Organizations 12 National Programs and Policies 13 The New Markets Initiative 16 Economic Opportunity, Agriculture, and Black Delta Farmers 17 USDA's Role in Civil Rights Enforcement
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Voting Rights Act and Mississippi: 1965–2006
    THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND MISSISSIPPI: 1965–2006 ROBERT MCDUFF* INTRODUCTION Mississippi is the poorest state in the union. Its population is 36% black, the highest of any of the fifty states.1 Resistance to the civil rights movement was as bitter and violent there as anywhere. State and local of- ficials frequently erected obstacles to prevent black people from voting, and those obstacles were a centerpiece of the evidence presented to Con- gress to support passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.2 After the Act was passed, Mississippi’s government worked hard to undermine it. In its 1966 session, the state legislature changed a number of the voting laws to limit the influence of the newly enfranchised black voters, and Mississippi officials refused to submit those changes for preclearance as required by Section 5 of the Act.3 Black citizens filed a court challenge to several of those provisions, leading to the U.S. Supreme Court’s watershed 1969 de- cision in Allen v. State Board of Elections, which held that the state could not implement the provisions, unless they were approved under Section 5.4 Dramatic changes have occurred since then. Mississippi has the high- est number of black elected officials in the country. One of its four mem- bers in the U.S. House of Representatives is black. Twenty-seven percent of the members of the state legislature are black. Many of the local gov- ernmental bodies are integrated, and 31% of the members of the county governing boards, known as boards of supervisors, are black.5 * Civil rights and voting rights lawyer in Mississippi.
    [Show full text]
  • Ms Barnewsfall2014.Pdf
    VOL. LXI FALL 2014 NO. 1 Front Row: Mark B. Higdon; Mark A. Bilbrey; John T. Cossar; Rande K. Yeager; J.M. “Mike” Sellari Back Row: J. Walter Michel; James M. Ingram; Robert Lampton; Harry M. Walker; W. Parrish Fortenberry; Ronnie Smith; Chip Triplett; Stewart R. Speed; Larry E. Favreau We may dress casually, but we’re serious about your title business. Title insurance isn’t something you trust to just anybody. That’s why we’ve assembled a team of the most respected business leaders around for our board of directors. eir vision and integrity have helped make Mississippi Valley Title the leading title insurance company in Mississippi. Add to that our sta’s local knowledge and experience and you have a very serious title insurance partner. Call us today. 601.969.0222 | 800.647.2124 | www.mvt.com Expert underwriters to help you navigate complicated transactions Another reason why Stewart is the right underwriter for you. Choose Stewart Title Guaranty Company as your underwriter, and you’ll be able to call upon the unsurpassed experience of our underwriting team. With hundreds of years of cumulative experience, our experts have the in-depth knowledge necessary to guide you through complex issues. Plus, Stewart also provides our issuing agencies with access to Virtual Underwriter ®, our online resource that provides 24/7 access to all the information needed to close a transaction. Contact us today for more information on why Stewart is the right underwriter for you. (601) 977-9776 stewart.com/mississippi Danny L. Crotwell, Esq. Sean M. Culhane, Esq.
    [Show full text]
  • Montgomery, C. R. "Bob" Papers
    Mississippi State University Scholars Junction Congressional and Political Research Center CPRC Finding Aids (CPRC) April 2021 Montgomery, C. R. "Bob" Papers Mississippi State University Libraries Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/cprc-findingaids Recommended Citation Mississippi State University Libraries, "Montgomery, C. R. "Bob" Papers" (2021). CPRC Finding Aids. 12. https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/cprc-findingaids/12 This Text is brought to you for free and open access by the Congressional and Political Research Center (CPRC) at Scholars Junction. It has been accepted for inclusion in CPRC Finding Aids by an authorized administrator of Scholars Junction. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Montgomery, C. R. "Bob" Papers This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on June 19, 2017. English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Mississippi State University Libraries P.O. Box 5408 Mississippi State 39762 [email protected] URL: http://library.msstate.edu/specialcollections Montgomery, C. R. "Bob" Papers Table of Contents Summary Information .................................................................................................................................... 3 Biographical/Historical note .......................................................................................................................... 3 Scope and Contents note ..............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 4 ) K- Refuge Manager Date
    REVIEW AND APPROVALS YAZOO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPLEX Hollandale, Mississippi ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 1986 _ • 4 ) k- Refuge manager Date/ Regional Office Approval Date w INTRODUCTION 0 Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge is located in the heart of Mississippi's delta region about 30 miles south of Greenville, MS, and about five air miles east of the Mississippi River in Washington County . Land acquisition began under authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Migratory Hunting Stamp Act in 1936 with the initial purchase of 2,166 acres . In March, 1937, an additional 639 acres were purchased with plans to acquire about 20,000 acres . Problems with a local drainage district resulted in a delay of official activation and assignment of a Manager until late in 1956 . The Service was given permission to purchase additional land in 1960 under the provision of Section 5928 of the Mississippi Code of 1942, recompiled, by Governor Ross R . Barnett . Varied acreages were purchased from individuals and/or clubs until a total of 12,471 acres were acquired with the purchase of 138 .2 acres on July 30, 1969, from Mrs . Susie B . Law . In the early 1900's through the 1940's, the natural habitat supplimented by agricultural crops provided excellent waterfowl hunting in and around the refuge area . People came from as far away as New England 0 to partake of the sport . Permits indicate that the area abounded in ducks, geese, and swans throughout the wintering season . Initially, Yazoo was established as a link in the chain of refuges throughout the Mississippi flyway with special emphasis on wintering habitat for ducks and geese .
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 79, No. 2 Summer 2016 Mississippi Libraries Vol
    Volume 79, No. 2 Summer 2016 Mississippi Libraries Vol. 79 No. 2 • Summer 2016 Page 34 A Quarterly Publication of the ISSN 0194-388X Mississippi Library Association ©2016 Editorial Staff Contents President’s Page ................................................................................................ 35 Editor Tina Harry MLA Responds to HB 1523 with Resolution ............................................... 37 Catalog & Asst. Automation Librarian The University of Mississippi National Library Legislative Day ................................................................... 38 [email protected] Mississippi Library Leadership Institute in Action ..................................... 39 Joy Garretson Assistant Editor Tracy Carr A Serials Weeding Project at the Millsaps-Wilson Library ....................... 43 Library Services Bureau Director Mariah Grant Mississippi Library Commission [email protected] Academic Librarian Outreach to Veterans .................................................. 47 Anne Hudson Copy Editor Quantitative Analysis of Published Articles in the Journal of Mississippi Audrey Beach History .............................................................................................................. 49 Resource Librarian Mississippi Delta Community College Indira Bhowal [email protected] People In The News ......................................................................................... 64 News Briefs ......................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Remarks of Senator Bob Dole Hayes Dent Farm Rally April 8, 1993
    This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu REMARKS OF SENATOR BOB DOLE HAYES DENT FARM RALLY APRIL 8, 1993 1 Page 1 of 85 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu CLINTON'S PACKAGE ** PRESIDENT CLINTON IS--TO HIS CREDIT--DOING QUITE A SALES JOB, ON A TAX AND SPEND PACKAGE THAT NOT ONLY INCLUDES THE LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN HISTORY BUT ALSO REPRESENTS A NOT-TOO- THINLY VEILED ATTACK ON PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE. IF 2 Page 2 of 85 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu FARMERS WERE PERCEIVED AS A LIBERAL SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP, THINGS MIGHT BE DIFFERENT--YOU MIGHT BE AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE RECEIVING A HANDOUT. ** BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. ALL OF US ARE COMMITTED TO DEFICIT REDUCTION, BUT WE 3 Page 3 of 85 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu CANNOT BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF AGRICULTURE AND DEFENSE ALONE. FARM SPENDING TOOK THE ONLY REAL CUTS OUT OF THE 1990 BUDGET AGREEMENT, AND NOW A NEW PRESIDENT HAS HIS SIGHTS SET ON YOU AGAIN. HERE'S THE PLAN: 4 Page 4 of 85 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu BUDGET CUTS ** THE SPENDING CUTS AS PROPOSED BY THE PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON PRODUCERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE ALREADY ON THE MARGIN.
    [Show full text]
  • OCTOBER TERM 1994 Reference Index Contents
    jnl94$ind1Ð04-04-96 12:34:32 JNLINDPGT MILES OCTOBER TERM 1994 Reference Index Contents: Page Statistics ....................................................................................... II General .......................................................................................... III Appeals ......................................................................................... III Arguments ................................................................................... III Attorneys ...................................................................................... III Briefs ............................................................................................. IV Certiorari ..................................................................................... IV Costs .............................................................................................. V Judgments and Opinions ........................................................... V Original Cases ............................................................................. V Records ......................................................................................... VI Rehearings ................................................................................... VI Rules ............................................................................................. VI Stays .............................................................................................. VI Conclusion ...................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • To View the Complete Study As an Adobe Acrobat PDF
    American Enterprise Institute The Project on Fair Representation Edward Blum Visiting Fellow American Enterprise Institute 1150 Seventeenth St. NW Washington, DC 20036 202.862.5800 An Assessment of Voting Rights Progress in Mississippi Executive Summary By Edward Blum Of all the states of the South and all of the states subject to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, Mississippi has had the longest journey from out of the darkness of segregation and racial subjugation. Early in the 1960s Mississippi had the lowest rates of black voter registration and participation maintained by the most unabashedly violent and vehement efforts to deny black suffrage. By the beginning of the 21st century, proportionally more blacks than whites were registered to vote in Mississippi, and for two decades Mississippi blacks have registered to vote at higher rates than African-Americans outside the South. Until recently Mississippi whites voted at higher rates than blacks, though the difference between the races has largely been eliminated as of 1998. Mississippi blacks often turn out at rates higher than blacks in the rest of the country. 1 Mississippi has the highest proportion black population of the United States, though the state has fewer African Americans than in New York City. With approximately 900 officials, blacks hold more public office in the Magnolia State than elsewhere, and a black person is more likely to be represented by or to get to vote for a black officeholder in Mississippi than anywhere else in the US. Since 1987, an African-American has represented the majority-black Delta congressional district. Black representation is approaching proportionality in the state House of Representatives, though the black proportion in the state Senate still lags.
    [Show full text]
  • Fsafocusivpdf.Pdf
    X MS FSA & ASU Small ISSUE VOLUME YEAR Farmers Conference 2 1 2 2007 X FSA THE SILENT PARTNER AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA… 4-5 X SCENES FROM MACOE …24-25 X FSA FOCUSED ON RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MS FSA EMPLOYEES ON THE JOB & IN THE COMMUNITY focus 2007 FARMER OF THE YEAR: FSA Producer/COC Advisor Receives Honor at 2007 Small Farmers Conference Rankin County Producer Lee Foote was selected from a group of statewide farmers as the “2007 Farmer of the Year.” Alcorn State University Extension Program in cooperation with the MS Association of Cooperatives, recently held their 18th Annual Small Farmers Conference March 26-28 in Vicksburg, MS. (Story on Page 2) Nominations were received from throughout the state for the farmer who demonstrated the greatest success in his/her farming operation this year. A forestry learning site tour was held at the Foote Farm to showcase the success of the timber operation. (Left to right: Alcorn State University Extension Director Dr. Dalton McAfee, Lee Foote and Foote and his wife, Ann, were presented with a trophy and a wife Ann Foote receive check and trophy for ASU Farmer of the Year) BELOW: Foote gives the history of his family farm to attendees who toured his farm during the Conference. A few check for $1000 for the prestigious honor. During the awards of his cattle are pictured in the background of this page. ceremony, a documentary showcasing the Foote Farm was shown to the audience of an estimated 250. Foote, who has been farming for over 50 years, resides in the McLaurin Community, and serves on the Rankin County FSA County Committee as a COC Advisor.
    [Show full text]
  • Copyrighted Material
    Index Abernethy, Thomas G. 273, 279, 290, 324, 345 Great Emigration 272, 281 abortion 306, 457–9 gubernatorial election of 1991 373 Ackia, battle of 32 health 201–2, 360 actors 265–6 Johnson, Jr. administration 325 Adam, Bidwell 230, 237 Mabus administration 371–2 Adams, John 54 mid-twentieth century 342 Adams, John Quincy 81, 89, 90 music 257 Adams, Robert H. 82 poetry 255–6 Afghanistan conflict 461 population trends 331, 353–4, 355, 356 African Americans poverty 362 1927 flood 226, 227–9 presidential election of 2008 431 1950s 283, 285 progressive “rednecks” 207 Allain administration 370 recent political trends 365, 367, 378 antebellum 109–14, 119 Reconstruction 153–5, 156, 157, 158, 159, Bailey administration 278 161, 163–4, 165, 166 Bilbo administration 213, 280 religion 199–200, 201, 297, 298, 299, 303–5 Coleman administration 292, 293 Republican party 170, 229, 324, 325 congressional elections of 2003 430 Roosevelt, Franklin D. administration 279 Constitution of 1890 176–8, 181 Russell administration 220 Democratic party 170, 181, 290, 325, 326–7, Second Reconstruction 309 348, 425 sharecropping 188–9 education 194–5, 196, 197–9, 278, 288–90, statewide elections of 2011 433 381–7, 392, 393, 395,COPYRIGHTED 396 suffrage MATERIAL 279, 280 farm owners 332, 333 twentieth-century transitions 343 Finch administration 347 twenty-first century 460 fine arts 262–3, 264 Vietnam war 327 first judge 370 Waller administration 343–4 Fordice administration 375 White’s second administration 288–90, 291 free blacks 114 Williams administration 326 Great Depression 236 Winter administration 367, 369 Mississippi: A History, Second Edition.
    [Show full text]
  • Honorable Kirk Fordice Governor of the State of Mississippi and Members of the Mississippi State Legislature
    Honorable Kirk Fordice Governor of the State of Mississippi and Members of the Mississippi State Legislature Ladies and Gentlemen: It is my pleasure to submit to you the 27th Annual Report of the Division of Medicaid for Fiscal Year 1998. It is being submitted in accordance with the requirements of Section 43-13-127 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 as amended. The Division gratefully acknowledges the vital contributions made by the State Department of Human Services and the State Department of Health to the ongoing administration of Mississippi’s Medicaid Program. In addition, we acknowledge the continued commitment of Medicaid providers throughout the state who provide the necessary health care to those who would otherwise go without. On behalf of the nearly 522,000 Mississippians who are being helped through the Medicaid program, we wish to thank the Governor and the members of the Legislature for continuing to make these services available. Respectfully, Helen Wetherbee, J.D., M.P.H. Executive Director Division of Medicaid Office of the Governor Mississippi Division of Medicaid Annual Report Fiscal Year 1998 July 1, 1997 – June 30, 1998 Kirk Fordice, Governor Ronnie Musgrove, Lieutenant Governor Helen Wetherbee, J.D., M.P.H., Executive Director Published by: Office of the Governor Mississippi Division of Medicaid Suite 801, Robert E. Lee Building 239 North Lamar Street Jackson, Mississippi 39201-1399 (601) 359-6050 4 Mission Statement TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 Introduction 6 Funding 6 Eligibility 9 Regional Offices Program Highlights for FY
    [Show full text]
  • Opportunities for the Mississippi Fair Commission: a Blueprint for the Future
    #527 Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) Report to the Mississippi Legislature Opportunities for the Mississippi Fair Commission: A Blueprint for the Future The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, acting in his capacity as chair of the Mississippi Fair Commission, requested that PEER review the commission’s management of state-owned facilities and offer a strategy for strengthening those facilities’ revenue- producing capabilities. He noted that the environment in which the Fair Commission attempts to attract events has become more competitive within the last decade, with similar types of facilities that are newer and equipped with more advanced technology. In making his request, the Commissioner also noted that the Fair Commission is a 100% special fund agency--i. e., it generates its own funding and receives no general funds from the Legislature for day-to-day operations. The Fair Commission’s assets include five major revenue-producing facilities that generate revenue primarily through rental fees and concession sales. The remaining facilities are support facilities necessary to produce events at the major facilities as well as support the State Fair and Dixie National Rodeo. While the Mississippi Fair Commission routinely hosts events that support its statutory mission, the majority of the revenue- producing events held on the fairgrounds complex do not directly support its statutory mission. The commission primarily relies on repeat business from promoters and its controls over contractual employees are insufficient to safeguard its revenues. For fiscal years 2007 through 2009, the Fair Commission had event-days on which the commission’s facilities were not in use--i.
    [Show full text]