Check Out College Savings Mississippi’s New Ad for $5.29 College Savings Day
Don’t forget to save the date, Saturday, September 8, on your calendar for $5.29 College Savings Day at the Mississippi Children’s Museum. It will feature special financial education activities from 10 am to 2 pm, 2 chances to win $529 MACS scholarships, photos with Echo the Mockingbird, and $5.29 admission to the Museum all day long!
Great Kick-off for First Responders of Mississippi
Many thanks to everyone who came out to the kick-off luncheon for First Responders of Mississippi last Wednesday. We had a wonderful afternoon, honoring the men and women who serve and protect us every day as police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians. As a member of the Board, I was particularly thrilled we were able to recognize Andy Petro, a volunteer firefighter in Leland for six decades, and also present a $10,000 check to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to buy much needed equipment for their SWAT team.
Showing Off Mississippi’s Achievements in New York This Week
This week, I am headed to New York City to meet with the credit rating agencies, Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch Ratings. These annual meetings are an opportunity to show the agencies, which are responsible for rating Mississippi’s creditworthiness, all the things our State is accomplishing for economic development, education improvements, responsible budgeting, and more. 

This fall, the State Bond Commission, which I sit on along with Governor Bryant and Attorney General Hood, will issue about $356 million in bonds for the State. This includes $50 million for roads and bridges, $113 million for our universities and community colleges, $145 million for economic development, and $39 million for other State infrastructure. These projects are authorized by the Legislature and the Bond Commission is tasked with issuing the debt in the most cost-effective way for Mississippi taxpayers.

Maintaining strong credit ratings is an important part of this process. Our current ratings are:

Standard and Poor’s AA Negative

Moody’s Aa2 Negative

Fitch Ratings AA Stable

The better our ratings, the better the price we can get on the debt we issue so strong ratings mean savings for Mississippi taxpayers.
Office of the Mississippi State Treasurer
Post Office Box 138
Jackson, Mississippi 39205
P: 601.359.3600 / F: 601.359.2001