JACKSON - A Senate committee on Monday passed a bill that calls for more study on proposed economic development megasites in Mississippi, including the so-called Wellspring project.
The Senate Finance Committee was acting on a House-passed bill that would authorize the state to issue $14.5 million in bonds to help acquire and prepare a 1,700-acre industrial site just outside of Tupelo. Pontotoc, Union and Lee counties would have to put up $4.5 million as well.
That language was taken out of the bill and replaced with the creation of a legislative study committee that would focus on sites across the state.
"It didn't look like it was enough votes in the committee to pass this project in any shape, form or fashion," said Senate Finance Chairman Tommy Robertson, R-Moss Point.
The Wellspring project has drawn criticism in the Legislature because no industry has committed to locating at the site.
Developers in other areas also are trying to attract an auto plant or other industry, and they say the state should not favor the Wellspring site over their land.
Gov. Haley Barbour has said the state should fund industrial development projects only after a company has agreed to locate in a particular place.
Under the amended bill, the study committee would consist of legislators from the five congressional districts, a representative from the Mississippi Development Authority, and appointees from the private sector.
Their report would be presented to the Legislature on Jan. 1.
The full Senate was to vote on the bill today.
Sen. Alan Nunnelee, R-Tupelo, said there were legitimate questions with the original Wellspring proposal. He said it was his hope that the project could be used as an industry recruiting model for the state.
Nunnelee and two other senators - Nickey Browning, D-Pontotoc and Hob Bryan, D-Amory - last week presented the Senate with another Wellspring plan that would establish up to five megasites and local governments would carry most of the financing burden.
Sen. Videt Carmichael, R-Meridian, who represents an area that has been trying to lure an automaker, said if the bill hadn't been amended, he would not have voted for it.
"There are so many other sites. I'm not against it, but I think it would just single out one area," he said.
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