Lincoln County officials lamented the lack of state funding for local bridge maintenance and shared their concerns with area lawmakers during Monday’s board meeting.

     District 39 Senator Sally Doty, District 92 Rep. Becky Currie and District 53 Rep. Bobby Moak discussed state Local System Bridge Program funding and the importance of maintaining local bridges with the board.

     The Mississippi Legislature failed to appropriate funding this year for the LSBP, which goes to counties to replace deficient bridges on county roads. The program has been around since 1994.

     None of the representatives in attendance expected a special session to be called for additional money to be appropriated for bridge work. However, all expressed hope that such funding would be approved next year.

     Engineer Jeff Dungan with Dungan Engineering said there is definitely a need for funding. He cited 58 bridges in Lincoln County rated as deficient and posted at 30,000 lbs. or lower.

     “I urge you all to look for ways to fund this program,” he said. “It costs about $2,000 per foot to build a bridge with the average bridge costing about $250,000, which is something counties cannot afford on their own.”

     Lincoln County expected $2.5 million during this supervisors’ term to go to LSBP projects, but that number will be reduced after this year’s money was not approved.

     J. Ronny Smith of Oddee Smith Construction of Brookhaven said LSBP money is well spent.

     “The money that goes toward the LSBP program are the best dollars spent in state government,” said Smith, a former Lincoln County chancery clerk. “I’ve watched it from all sides.”

     Currie said she did not know why the funding did not come out of the legislature this year.

     “I don’t have a clue what to tell you,” she said. “We do a great job with our debt here in Mississippi. We were in great shape for the money to pass. We were in as much shock as you were.”

     Currie said she’d not only like to fund LSBP, but she’d like to double the amount sent to the counties.

     Moak said this year’s session did not appear good for bonds early on.

     “We were told early in the session we would probably not see any bonds this year,” said Moak. “I do not believe you’ll see one in special session as well. You’ll be a year behind.”

     Moak added that other programs were not funded either. He mentioned funding for building repairs at state universities and colleges, which were needed at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, among others.

     Moak described a “philosophical difference” existing in Jackson between Republican leadership and Democrats as being to blame for the lack of funding.

     “People wanted to go conservative and they did,” the Democratic lawmaker said, describing the 2011 elections. “This is what you get.”

     He did agree that bridges are very important to communities and are something that affects everyone.

     Doty said she’s hopeful things work out differently for the program next year.

     “I’m very hopeful that next year this will be funded,” she said. “I encourage all of you to stay in touch with me and let me know how things are going.”

     She added she would like to meet with supervisors individually to discuss what they need in their districts.

     In other business Monday, supervisors all described a problem with road signs and stop signs being knocked down or stolen in their districts.

     District Three Supervisor Nolan Williamson said he counted 39 signs destroyed or missing in his district.

     “When school gets out, there is a rash of it,” he said. “When school goes back into session, it happens again.”

     District Four Supervisor Eddie Brown said it’s happening in his district as well.

     “When stop signs get torn down, it can result in something very serious if there is an accident,” he said.

     District One Supervisor the Rev. Jerry Wilson said he’s seen signs in and alongside creeks in his district, which creates problems.