AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND TO ASSIST IN PAYING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PURCHASING AND OUTFITTING FOUR NEW POLICE VEHICLES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027.
Summary
House Bill 778 is a targeted appropriations measure that provides $183,000 from the Mississippi State General Fund to the governing authorities of the City of Cleveland. The money is intended to help the city purchase and outfit four new police vehicles for the Cleveland Police Department, replacing four existing vehicles. The appropriation is for fiscal year 2027, beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.
The bill is a straightforward spending authorization rather than a regulatory change. It directs the State Treasurer and State Fiscal Officer to process the funds through the normal warrant and requisition procedures used for state appropriations. If enacted, it would create a one-time state-funded grant to a specific municipality for public safety equipment, with no broader statewide program or eligibility rules.
Impact
HB778 would appropriate state general fund dollars to a single local government, increasing state spending by $183,000 for FY 2027. It would not amend the Mississippi Code or create a new permanent statutory program; instead, it would operate as a one-time appropriation for the City of Cleveland’s police department. The practical effect would be to help replace aging police vehicles and support local law enforcement operations in that city.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no documented debate or recorded opposition in the materials supplied. Based on the bill text, the measure appears routine and narrowly focused on local public safety needs. The absence of discussion or voting history suggests no visible controversy in the available record.
Contention
There are no specific points of contention reflected in the provided context. Because the bill is a city-specific appropriation, any potential concerns would likely center on the use of state general funds for a local asset purchase, the size of the appropriation, or whether similar needs in other municipalities are being addressed. However, no such objections or competing viewpoints are documented in the supplied transcripts or votes.