The Mississippi Scenic River Development Alliance (SRDA) is now an officially recognized organization by the state legislature. HB 1525 took effect with its passage on February 21, 2018.
What Is the Scenic River Development Alliance (SRDA) in Mississippi?
The Scenic River Development Alliance is a partnership between Amite, Pike, Franklin, Wilkinson, and Walthall counties and the city of McComb (in Pike County) that was originally established in 2012. It was formed to promote outdoor recreation on the rivers and in state parks in the southwest corner of the state—the Scenic Rivers Region. And while SRDA’s main objective will not change with HB 1525’s passage, recognition by the state means that the organization now has the state’s permission to collect funds and manage and develop land. In addition, SRDA employees are now employees of the state, entitling them to retirement benefits and other state-employee benefits.
As a state agency, SRDA can accept funds from any counties, municipalities, or private donors that wish to donate. Since SRDA is now state-recognized, those donations are public funds and HB 1525 requires that they are kept in the SRDA Economic Development Fund. SRDA can also acquire land�through gifts, purchase, or otherwise�to be used for tourism, industrial parks, recreation, or other economic development purposes.
Where do surety bonds come in?
HB 1525 not only makes SRDA employees state employees, it allows the Alliance to appoint trustees. Trustees’ main purpose is to vote on how SRDA funds are used. SRDA can appoint two trustees per participating county, municipality or member agency, plus two at-large trustees.�This is where bonds come in. Each trustee must be bonded in the amount of $50,000, with premiums paid by the SRDA fund. The surety bonds ensure that the trustees will act ethically and in the best interests of the state.