The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is closely monitoring timelines as it awaits a budget agreement and a special legislative session, with the new fiscal year on the horizon.
MDOT Executive Director Brad White outlined the federal requirements the department must meet to ensure vendors and contractors are aware of potential financial constraints. The first critical deadline is 45 days before the new fiscal year, which is approaching next week. Although this does not immediately halt work, it serves as a warning that work stoppages could occur if a budget is not secured within 30 days of the new fiscal year.
“There’s a process involved in safely shutting down work zones,” White explained. “Vendors and contractors need adequate notice to avoid incurring costs beyond June 30th that we legally cannot cover. This could significantly disrupt our operations, affecting over a billion dollars worth of construction projects across the state.”
In addition to budgetary concerns, MDOT hopes lawmakers will address a clerical error during the anticipated special session. Unlike the previously reported decimal error, this issue involves incorrect dates in House Bill 1, as identified by the Office of State Aid.
Currently, the Office of State Aid Road Construction receives $4 million monthly from fuel taxes. The bill intended to increase this to $5 million, but the wording suggests they would receive both amounts, potentially creating a $50 million shortfall for MDOT.
White emphasized that while the error is concerning, it is correctable. “It’s not keeping me up at night, but it’s an oversight with unintended consequences that could severely impact MDOT if left unaddressed,” he said.
