Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-219 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 19 / Section 27-219
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-219
Status: in_force

(1) Whenever the board or commission or an employee thereof has reason to believe that a violation of any provision of a regulation or of any order of the board or commission has occurred, the board or commission may cause a written complaint to be served upon the alleged violator or violators. The complaint shall specify the provisions of Sections 21-27-201 through 21-27-221 or regulation or order alleged to have been violated and the facts alleged to constitute a violation thereof, and shall require that the alleged violator appear before the board or commission, or any duly designated hearing officer appointed thereby, at a time and place specified in the notice and answer the charges complained of. The time of appearance before the board or commission or designated hearing officer shall be not less than thirty (30) days from the date of the service of the complaint.

(2) The board or commission or designated hearing officer shall afford an opportunity for a fair hearing to the alleged violator or violators at the time and place specified in the complaint. On the basis of the evidence produced at the hearing, the board or commission or designated hearing officer shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law and enter such order as in its opinion will best further the purposes of Sections 21-27-201 through 21-27-221 and shall give written notice of such order to the alleged violator, and the board or commission or designated hearing officer may assess such penalties as hereinbefore provided.

(3) Except as otherwise expressly provided, any notice or other instrument issued by or under authority of the board or commission or designated hearing officer may be served on any person affected thereby personally or by publication, and proof of such service may be made in like manner as in case of service of a summons in a civil action, such proof to be filed in the office of the board or commission; or such service may be made by mailing a copy of the notice, order or other instrument by certified mail, directed to the person affected at his last known post office address as shown by the files or records of the board or commission, and proof thereof may be made by the affidavit of the person who did the mailing, filed in the office of the board or commission.

(4) In conducting the hearings provided in this section, any member of the board or commission, or the chief administrative officer thereof, or the duly designated hearing officer, shall have the authority to issue subpoenas to appear and give testimony, to produce records, or both, and in case of contumacy or refusal to obey a notice of hearing or subpoena issued hereunder, the circuit court shall have jurisdiction upon application of the board or commission or its representative to issue an order requiring obedience to the hearing notice or subpoena of the board or commission or designated hearing officer. Any failure to obey such court order may be punished by such court as contempt thereof. Any member of the board or commission, or the chief administrative officer thereof, or the designated hearing officer, may administer oaths. A verbatim record of the hearing shall be made. Witnesses who are subpoenaed shall receive the same fees and mileage as in civil actions.

(5) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the board or commission to issue, deny, modify or revoke any operator certification hereunder shall be entitled to a full hearing before the board or commission or duly designated hearing officer appointed thereby in the same manner as provided hereinabove, and appeals from such actions shall be in the same manner as provided hereinafter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-7-5 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-7-5
Status: in_force

The manner in which any municipality, within the class provided in Section 21-7-1 may change its form of government to the plan authorized herein, shall be as follows:

One or more petitions, similar in form and substance, addressed to the mayor praying that an election be held to determine whether or not such city shall abandon its existing form of government and become organized under a council form of government, signed by at least twenty per centum of the qualified electors of such city, shall be filed with the city clerk, who shall deal with the same as required with reference to other petitions.

If on the delivery of such petition to the mayor, it shall appear that such petition or petitions have not been signed by the required number of qualified electors of such city, the mayor shall at once certify such fact and immediately return such petition or petitions to the person or persons presenting the same, who may thereafter procure additional signers thereto and again file such petition or petitions with the city clerk, as above provided, as an original petition.

If it shall appear at any time from the certificate of the city clerk that said petition or petitions have been signed by the requisite number of qualified electors of said city, the mayor shall immediately refer the same to the board of aldermen. If it shall appear that said petition or petitions are in proper form and have been sufficiently signed by the qualified electors of such city, they shall, within thirty days, order, and provide, for the holding of a special election in such city, to be held, not less than thirty, nor more than sixty days, from the date of making such order, notice of which election shall be given, and the same shall be held and conducted as other elections in such city. At such special election the propositions to be voted for shall be: “FOR THE COUNCIL FORM OF GOVERNMENT” and “FOR THE PRESENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT,” which propositions shall be printed on the official ballot at such election. As soon as the return of such election shall have been certified by the persons holding the same, the board of aldermen shall at their next regular meeting, consider the same, and if a majority of the votes cast at such election, are in favor of the council form of government, then they shall enter an order providing for the election of a mayor, a vice-mayor and five other councilmen provided for under Section 21-7-7 , at an election to be held on the second Tuesday in December next before the expiration of the terms of the municipal officers then holding office. Thereupon the said petition or petitions, and all proceedings had thereon, including an order of the mayor and board of aldermen that the form of government will be changed on the first Monday of January following the expiration of their term of office, shall be recorded in the ordinance book of such city, which record shall be evidence of all the matters and things therein contained. The mayor of such city shall immediately certify to the secretary of state that such city by special election has adopted the system of government provided for herein, which certificate shall be recorded in a book kept for that purpose by the secretary of state. In case it shall appear by said election returns that a majority of the votes cast at such election were in favor of the existing form of government, then the board of aldermen shall dismiss the petition, in which case no similar petition shall be filed for a period of one year from the date of such order, but nothing short of such election shall preclude the filing of the petition at any time.

Any city which shall have operated for more than two years under the council form of government may abandon such form of government and return to the code charter form of government by substantially the same procedure through petitions and elections as herein provided for change to the council form of government. Such change, however, shall take effect on the first Monday of January following the expiration of the term of office of the members of the council then holding office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-229 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-229
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-229
Status: in_force

The Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System, as soon as it is decided that such city shall come within the terms of this article, shall notify the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Mississippi that such city is operating within such terms. The commissioner shall notify all insurance companies, which shall include mutual, interinsurer, and reciprocal associations or companies, transacting the business of fire and lightning insurance in the State of Mississippi, of the fact that such city is operating within such terms. In the event that any such insurance company writes or has written any insurance in said municipality, the rates of said insurance company being based in any way upon the efficiency and equipment of the fire department of said municipality, such company shall be notified that at the time that foreign insurance companies are required to report to the State Tax Commission the premiums charged or received in Mississippi, then such company, whether foreign or domestic, shall truly report to the State Tax Commission at the same time as reports on the general tax on premiums are made as provided in Section 27-15-107 , sending a duplicate of such report to such board of trustees, the amount of premiums charged by said company for fire and lightning insurance on property situated in such city within the period covered by the report made to the State Tax Commission for purposes of taxation of such state, less premiums returned to policyholder and cancellations on account of policies not taken. It is the legislative intent that said report of premiums shall include and cover all premiums charged or received within said period, less returned premiums and cancellations as aforesaid in connection with the insurance of property situated in such city, which are reported for the purposes of taxation by said state. Such report for the purposes of this section shall not include premiums contracted for prior to such time as the commissioner shall have notified the company that such city is within the terms and purposes of this article. Said premiums so required to be reported shall be and they are hereby taxed to the extent of one-half of one percent ( 1 / 2 of 1%) of said premiums, after deducting said returned premiums and cancellations, which tax shall be paid to the State Tax Commission by the insurance company at the same time that the general tax on premiums is paid to the State Tax Commission as provided in Section 27-15-107 . The insurance company paying the same shall notify the State Tax Commission of the name of the city responsible for the maintenance of such fire department and system, and, at the same time, shall give such city duplicate notice of the amount paid to the State Tax Commission. The State Tax Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to collect such taxes in the same manner and by the same means that he is required and empowered to collect other taxes imposed upon insurance premiums.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-201 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 9 / Section 29-201
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-201
Status: in_force

In each city in the State of Mississippi having a population of not less than three thousand (3,000) according to the last federal census or according to any subsequent federal census, and having a regularly organized, paid fire department with equipment of the value of not less than Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00) and/or regularly organized paid police department, and having not less than two (2) paid firemen and/or not less than two (2) paid policemen, whose sole employment is by such city in its fire department and for police department, there may be provided in connection with the regularly organized and maintained paid fire department and/or police department of such city a special fund known as the “disability and relief fund for firemen and policemen,” hereinafter called “said fund,” which shall exist and be maintained for the benefit of the persons hereinafter named and shall be derived, raised and administered in the manner hereinafter provided.

Said fund and system of relief, when inaugurated, shall and does create a disability and relief system to apply to the members of the regularly organized, maintained and paid fire department and/or police department of such municipality. Notwithstanding any other section of this article no such fund known as the “disability and relief fund for firemen and policemen” shall be created by any city after March 1, 1976, unless by an amendment to this article by the legislature of the State of Mississippi.

Any reference in other sections of this article to members of the fire and police department shall be defined to include only the members of the disability and relief fund for firemen and policemen of the city.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-45-11 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 38 / Section 45-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-45-11
Status: in_force

Any tax increment financing plan, at a minimum, shall contain:

(a) A statement of the objectives of a municipality with regard to the plan;

(b) A statement indicating the need and proposed use of the tax increment financing plan in relationship to the redevelopment plan;

(c) A statement containing the cost estimates of the redevelopment project and the projected sources of revenue (ad valorem taxes, sales taxes, and the proceeds of any other financial assistance) to be used to meet the costs including estimates of tax increments and the total amount of indebtedness to be incurred;

(d) A list of all real property to be included in the tax increment financing plan;

(e) The duration of the tax increment financing plan's existence;

(f) A statement of the estimated impact of the tax increment financing plan upon the revenues of all taxing jurisdictions in which a redevelopment project is located; and

(g) A statement requiring that a separate fund be established to receive ad valorem taxes and the proceeds of any other financial assistance.

Before approving any tax increment financing plan, the governing body shall hold a public hearing thereon after published notice in a newspaper in which the municipality is authorized to publish legal notices at least once and not less than ten (10) days and not more than twenty (20) days prior to the hearing.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-69 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 5 / Section 33-69
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-69
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided in Section 27-41-2 , where lands are offered for sale for unpaid municipal taxes or special improvement taxes or municipal separate school district taxes, and a person will not bid therefor the amount of taxes, damages, and costs due, the same shall be struck off to the municipality and otherwise, where applicable, dealt with as lands are which are sold to the state for delinquent state and county taxes. The governing authorities shall be authorized to pay the state and county taxes on lands thus acquired by the municipality, and to collect the money thus paid, with the same damages and interest allowed individuals in similar cases under the general revenue laws of the state thereon from the date of such payment, upon the redemption of the lands from the municipal sale.

Where lands have heretofore been, or may hereafter be struck off to a municipality for unpaid municipal taxes or special improvement taxes or municipal separate school districts taxes, and such lands have also been sold or struck off to an individual or to the state for unpaid state, county, or taxing district taxes, the governing authorities of such municipality are hereby authorized to redeem such lands from the sale for delinquent state, county, or taxing district taxes by paying to the chancery clerk of the county where such lands are situated the amount necessary to redeem same and to collect the money thus paid, together with interest thereon at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum from the date of such payment, upon the redemption of such lands from the municipal sale. Such lands may be redeemed from the municipal sale for unpaid municipal taxes or special improvement taxes by the owner or other person interested in such lands, including the person to whom such lands were struck off or sold at the sale for state, county, or taxing district taxes.

When lands have heretofore or may hereafter be struck off to a municipality for unpaid municipal taxes or special improvement taxes or municipal separate school district taxes, and the title to such lands has matured or may hereafter mature in the state by virtue of a sale for unpaid state, county, or taxing district taxes, the governing authorities of such municipality may purchase said lands from the state at a price to be agreed upon by the Secretary of State, Governor, or other lawful authority. Upon payment of such amounts into the State Treasury, the state's title to said lands shall be conveyed to the said municipality by a patent, or patents, executed and delivered as provided by law in cases of sales of state lands to individuals.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-61 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 9 / Section 19-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-61
Status: in_force

Any municipality in this state which has a population in excess of one hundred thousand people may set aside, appropriate and expend moneys for the purpose of advertising and bringing to the attention of the citizens of such municipality the reasons for and status of any municipal activity, litigation, franchise, proposed bond issue, and any other municipal matter about which it is for the best interest of the people that they be fully informed.

Such advertising and publicizing may be done by newspaper, magazine, radio, television, or by any combination of same, which in the judgment of the governing body of such municipality will be helpful toward advancing the moral, financial and other interests of such municipality.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-25-53 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 17 / Section 25-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-25-53
Status: in_force

(1) No interlocal agreement made under Sections 21-25-51 through 21-25-59 shall be entered into by any municipality or rural water association without the approval by resolution on the minutes of the governing authorities of the municipality and the rural water association.

(2) No power, authority and responsibility may be exercised under Sections 21-25-51 through 21-25-59 by the governing authorities of any municipality or rural water association which it would not have authority to exercise otherwise pursuant to the law controlling such municipality or association.

(3) Any power, authority or responsibility exercised or capable of being exercised by the governing authorities of any municipality of this state may be exercised and carried out jointly with the governing authorities of any rural water association.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-43-9 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 35 / Section 43-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-43-9
Status: in_force

Notice of the hearing shall be given by:

(a) One (1) publication of the resolution of intention in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality, which may be made as provided in Section 21-17-19 ;

(b) Mailing a complete copy of the resolution of intention to each business in the proposed or established area. Publication and mailing shall be completed at least ten (10) days prior to the time of the hearing.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-219 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 13 / Section 27-219
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-219
Status: in_force

(1) Whenever the board or commission or an employee thereof has reason to believe that a violation of any provision of a regulation or of any order of the board or commission has occurred, the board or commission may cause a written complaint to be served upon the alleged violator or violators. The complaint shall specify the provisions of Sections 21-27-201 through 21-27-221 or regulation or order alleged to have been violated and the facts alleged to constitute a violation thereof, and shall require that the alleged violator appear before the board or commission, or any duly designated hearing officer appointed thereby, at a time and place specified in the notice and answer the charges complained of. The time of appearance before the board or commission or designated hearing officer shall be not less than thirty (30) days from the date of the service of the complaint.

(2) The board or commission or designated hearing officer shall afford an opportunity for a fair hearing to the alleged violator or violators at the time and place specified in the complaint. On the basis of the evidence produced at the hearing, the board or commission or designated hearing officer shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law and enter such order as in its opinion will best further the purposes of Sections 21-27-201 through 21-27-221 and shall give written notice of such order to the alleged violator, and the board or commission or designated hearing officer may assess such penalties as hereinbefore provided.

(3) Except as otherwise expressly provided, any notice or other instrument issued by or under authority of the board or commission or designated hearing officer may be served on any person affected thereby personally or by publication, and proof of such service may be made in like manner as in case of service of a summons in a civil action, such proof to be filed in the office of the board or commission; or such service may be made by mailing a copy of the notice, order or other instrument by certified mail, directed to the person affected at his last known post office address as shown by the files or records of the board or commission, and proof thereof may be made by the affidavit of the person who did the mailing, filed in the office of the board or commission.

(4) In conducting the hearings provided in this section, any member of the board or commission, or the chief administrative officer thereof, or the duly designated hearing officer, shall have the authority to issue subpoenas to appear and give testimony, to produce records, or both, and in case of contumacy or refusal to obey a notice of hearing or subpoena issued hereunder, the circuit court shall have jurisdiction upon application of the board or commission or its representative to issue an order requiring obedience to the hearing notice or subpoena of the board or commission or designated hearing officer. Any failure to obey such court order may be punished by such court as contempt thereof. Any member of the board or commission, or the chief administrative officer thereof, or the designated hearing officer, may administer oaths. A verbatim record of the hearing shall be made. Witnesses who are subpoenaed shall receive the same fees and mileage as in civil actions.

(5) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the board or commission to issue, deny, modify or revoke any operator certification hereunder shall be entitled to a full hearing before the board or commission or duly designated hearing officer appointed thereby in the same manner as provided hereinabove, and appeals from such actions shall be in the same manner as provided hereinafter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-69 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 7 / Section 31-69
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-69
Status: in_force

The tenure of everyone holding an office, place, position or employment under the provisions of Sections 21-31-51 through 21-31-75 shall be only during good behavior. Any such person may be removed or discharged, suspended without pay, demoted or reduced in rank, or deprived of vacation privileges or other special privileges, or any combination thereof, for any of the following reasons:

Incompetency, inefficiency or inattention of duty; dishonesty, intemperance, immoral conduct, insubordination, discourteous treatment of the public or a fellow employee; or any other act of omission or commission tending to injure the public service.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-169 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 8 / Section 27-169
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-169
Status: in_force

A municipality is authorized to make such applications and enter into such contracts for financial assistance in comprehensive planning as may be appropriate under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 ( P. L. 92-500 ); under Chapter 23 and Chapter 26, Title 33, United States Code; under Chapter 9, Title 40, United States Code and under any other relevant statutes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-73 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 13 / Section 33-73
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-73
Status: in_force

Any municipality in the state having a tax lien for special improvements or any other tax lien upon property located therein is hereby authorized, when the said property is offered for sale by the state and county for state and county taxes due thereon, to purchase at such tax sale the property upon which it holds said special improvement lien, and shall be authorized to pay the amount of its bid therefor.

Whenever property upon which any municipality in this state holds a lien has already been sold for state and county taxes, the municipality may redeem the tax sale the same as other lien holders in the state, and authority for municipalities to so thus redeem is hereby granted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-23-3 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 21 / Section 23-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-23-3
Status: in_force

In all municipalities having a population of ten thousand (10,000) or more, according to the latest available federal census, there shall be a municipal judge and a prosecuting attorney, who shall be appointed by the governing authorities of the municipality at the time provided for the appointment of other officers. The municipal governing authorities may appoint one (1) additional municipal judge, who shall exercise the same authority and prerogatives of the office, regardless of the presence or absence of the other municipal judge. Except as otherwise provided in Section 21-23-5 , a municipal judge shall be a qualified elector of the county in which the municipality is located and shall be an attorney at law. Such municipal judges and prosecuting attorney shall receive a salary, to be paid by the municipality, and to be fixed by the governing authorities of the municipality.

In any proceeding in which a conflict of interest arises for the prosecuting attorney, or any other reason dictates that he recuse himself, the mayor of the municipality may appoint a special prosecuting attorney for that particular proceeding. Such special prosecuting attorney shall be compensated for his services in the same manner and amount as allowed under Section 21-23-7 for appointed counsel for indigent persons.

Provided, however, the governing authorities of any municipality having a population in excess of ten thousand (10,000) persons according to the latest available federal census and situated in a county having an area in excess of nine hundred thirty-five (935) square miles and having a county court may, in their discretion, follow the provisions as set out in Section 21-23-5 for municipalities having a population of less than ten thousand (10,000).

Provided, further, the governing authorities of any municipality having a population in excess of fifty thousand (50,000) according to the latest federal decennial census may, in their discretion, provide for the appointment of not more than ten (10) municipal judges for said municipality, each of whom shall exercise the same authority and prerogatives of their office, regardless of the presence or absence of the other municipal judges.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-51 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 8 / Section 31-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-51
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created a civil service commission to administer a civil service system in every municipality described in subsection (2) of this section which has administrative and other employees employed on a monthly basis.

(2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall apply to:

(a) Any municipality, operating under a commission form of government, and having a population of more than twenty-one thousand, according to the federal census of 1950; and

(b) Any municipality located in the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee District, and having a population of more than fifteen thousand and less than twenty thousand, according to the federal census of 1950.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-201 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 8 / Section 33-201
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-201
Status: in_force

This article may be cited as the City Utility Tax Law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-221 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-221
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-221
Status: in_force

The ad valorem tax provided for in Section 21-29-219 shall be stopped by the municipality whenever the interest from the relief fund shall be sufficient to pay all disabilities and relief which are a charge against said fund and future requirements as determined by the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi. However, when the board of trustees determines that interest from said fund is insufficient to meet the charges of disability or relief, then said municipality shall reinstate said tax for the purpose of building up the relief fund until such time as the fund is actuarially sound, as determined by the Board of Trustees.

The board of trustees, for each municipality with a disability and relief fund for firemen and policemen, shall have prepared an actuarial study of the fund at least every four (4) years and report the findings to the Legislature of the State of Mississippi. The first study shall be filed with the Legislature in January 1980.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-45-3 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 38 / Section 45-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-45-3
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings given them in this section unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context:

(a) “ Project area ” includes:

(i) Areas in which there is a significant amount of buildings or improvements which, by reason of dilapidation, deterioration, age, obsolescence, inadequate provision for ventilation, light, air, sanitation or open spaces, high density of population and overcrowding or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes, or any combination of such factors, are conducive to ill health, transmission of disease, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency or crime and are detrimental to the public health, safety, morals or welfare;

(ii) Areas in which are located a building or buildings that are of important value for purposes of historical preservation, as designated by the Department of Archives and History;

(iii) Areas which by reason of a significant amount of defective or inadequate street layout, faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility or usefulness, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, deterioration of site improvements, diversity of ownership, tax delinquency, defective or unusual conditions of title, improper subdivision or obsolete platting or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire or other causes, or any combination of such factors, substantially impair or arrest the sound growth of the community, retard the provision of housing accommodations or constitute an economic or social liability and are a menace to the public health, safety, morals or welfare in their present condition and use;

(iv) Areas in which the construction, renovation, repair or rehabilitation of property for residential, commercial or other uses is in the public interest; or

(v) A project for which a certificate of public convenience and necessity has been obtained by the municipality pursuant to the Regional Economic Development Act.

(b) A “redevelopment project” may include any work or undertaking by a municipality:

(i) To acquire project areas or portions thereof, including lands, structures or improvements the acquisition of which is necessary or incidental to the proper clearance, development or redevelopment of such areas or to the prevention of the spread or recurrence of slum conditions or conditions of blight;

(ii) To clear any project areas by demolition or removal of existing buildings, structures, streets, utilities or other improvements thereon and to install, construct or reconstruct streets, utilities, bulkheads, boat docks and site improvements essential to the preparation of sites for uses in accordance with the redevelopment plan and public improvements to encourage private redevelopment in accordance with the redevelopment plan; or

(iii) To sell or lease property acquired by a municipality as part of a redevelopment project for not less than its fair value for uses in accordance with such redevelopment plan to retain property or public improvements for public use in accordance with the redevelopment plan.

“Redevelopment project” may also include the preparation of a redevelopment plan, the planning, survey and other work incident to a redevelopment project and the preparation of all plans and arrangements for carrying out a redevelopment project, relocation of businesses and families required under applicable law, and upon a determination, by resolution of the governing body of the municipality in which such land is located, that the acquisition and development of additional real property not within a project area is essential to the proper clearance or redevelopment of a project area or a necessary part of the general slum clearance program of the municipality, the acquisition, planning, preparation for development or disposal of such land shall constitute a redevelopment project.

(c) “ Redevelopment plan ” means a plan for the acquisition, clearance, reconstruction, rehabilitation or future use of a redevelopment project area which shall be sufficiently complete:

(i) To indicate its relationship to definite local objectives as to appropriate land uses and improved traffic, public transportation, public utilities, recreational, residential, commercial and community facilities and other public improvements; and

(ii) To indicate proposed land uses, waterfront uses, if any, and building requirements in the area.

A redevelopment plan may include interlocal cooperation agreements between a municipality and a county whereby both agree to pledge revenues payable to them to fund the debt of service of any indebtedness incurred pursuant to this chapter.

(d) “ Governing body ” means the governing body of any municipality or the board of supervisors of any county.

(e) “ Developer ” means any person, firm, corporation, partnership or other entity which enters into an agreement with a municipality whereby the developer agrees to construct, operate and maintain or procure the construction, operation and maintenance of buildings or other facilities or improvements upon land or waterfront being a part of a redevelopment project.

(f) “ Municipality ” means any city or town incorporated under the laws of the State of Mississippi or any county.

(g) “ Clerk ” means the municipal clerk or chancery clerk, as the case may be.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-9-77 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 7 / Section 9-77
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-9-77
Status: repealed

All laws governing cities heretofore operating under another form of government, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter respecting the council-manager plan of government, shall apply to and govern such cities respectively when they shall come under the said council-manager plan. All by-laws, ordinances and resolutions lawfully passed and in force in every such city under its former organization shall remain in force until altered or repealed by the council elected under the provisions of this chapter.

The territorial limits of every such city shall remain the same as under its former organization. All rights and property of every description, which were vested in every such city under its former organization, shall vest in the same under the organization contemplated by the council-manager plan of government. No right or liability, either in favor of or against such city, and no suit or prosecution of any kind shall be affected by such change, unless otherwise provided.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-67 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 1 / Section 19-67
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-67
Status: in_force

The governing authority of any municipality in the state, in its discretion, is authorized to donate annually, out of any funds in the municipal treasury, to:

(a) Boys and Girls Club. Any chartered chapter of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America located within the municipality, provided that the cumulative sum of donations to all chapters within the municipality does not exceed the amount generated in the municipality by one-fourth ( 1 / 4 ) mill on all of the taxable property within the municipality, during the fiscal year in which the donations are made. Nothing in this paragraph authorizes the imposition of additional tax.

(b) Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). Any chartered chapter of the YMCA located within the municipality, out of any funds in the treasury of the municipality, provided that the cumulative sum of donations to all chapters within the municipality does not exceed the amount generated in the municipality by one-fourth ( 1 / 4 ) mill on all of the taxable property within the municipality, during the fiscal year in which the donations are made. Nothing in this paragraph authorizes the imposition of additional tax.

(c) Farmers' markets. Any farmers' market that is certified by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce and operating within the municipality, not to exceed the amount that would be generated from the levy of a one-fourth ( 1 / 4 ) mill ad valorem tax upon all taxable property in the municipality.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-15 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 17 / Section 19-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-15
Status: in_force

(1) The governing authorities of municipalities shall have power to make all needful police regulations necessary for the preservation of good order and peace of the municipality and to prevent injury to, destruction of, or interference with public or private property.

(2) The governing authority of a municipality shall have the power to regulate or prohibit any mill, laundry or manufacturing plant from operating whereby the soot, cinders or smoke therefrom, or the unnecessary noises thereof, may do damage to or interfere with the use or occupation of public or private property.

(3) The governing authority of a municipality shall have the power to prohibit or regulate the sale or use of firecrackers, roman candles, torpedoes, sky rockets, and any and all explosives commonly known and referred to as fireworks; the term “fireworks” shall not include toy pistols, toy canes, toy guns, other devices in which paper caps manufactured in accordance with United States Interstate Commerce Commission regulations for packing and shipping of toy paper caps are used, or toy pistol paper caps manufactured as provided herein, the sale and use of which shall be permitted at all times.

(4) The governing authority of a municipality may enact an ordinance specifying the manner and means by which a motor vehicle may be immobilized due to failure of the record title owner of the motor vehicle to pay traffic or parking fines totaling over Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00).

(5) The governing authority of a municipality may enforce an ordinance regulating or restricting parking on any public street or roadway. However, signage that adequately describes the parking regulation or restriction must be posted.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-75 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 19 / Section 31-75
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-75
Status: in_force

No person holding any office, place, position or employment subject to civil service, is under any obligation to contribute to any political fund or to render any political service to any person or party whatsoever, and no person shall be removed, reduced in grade or salary, or otherwise prejudiced for refusing so to do. No public officer, whether elected or appointed, shall discharge, promote, demote or in any manner change the official rank, employment or compensation of any person under civil service, or promise or threaten so to do, for giving or withholding, or neglecting to make any contribution of money, or service, or any other valuable thing, for any political purpose. No such employee shall engage in any political campaign as a representative of any candidate or shall engage in pernicious activities, and any person so engaging in such activities shall be subject to dismissal or demotion.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-9 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 9 / Section 27-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-9
Status: in_force

If, upon complaint of any citizen or citizens interested, the governing authorities of any municipality find that there is reasonable ground for believing that any meter or meters intended to measure or register the quantity of water, electric light or power, or gas supplied or furnished by any individual, company or corporation to the municipality or its inhabitants is or are measuring or registering incorrectly or excessively or is or are of a less candle power or degree of brilliancy than required by contract, such governing authorities may employ an expert, who shall examine and test said meter or meters, or said light or lights, as the case may be, and report back to said governing authorities, notice of the time and place of the proposed test or tests being first given to all parties interested. If such examination or test shall show the fact that said meter or meters measure or register incorrectly or excessively, or that said light or lights are of a less candle power or brilliancy than required by contract, then all expenses of such examination and test incurred by said municipal governing authorities shall be charged against and collected back from said individual, company or corporation supplying or furnishing such water, electric light or power, or gas, as the case may be, and such penalties may be imposed as the municipal ordinances may provide.

The governing authorities of any municipality are authorized to prosecute any person tampering with electric, gas or water meters as provided in Section 97-25-3 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-241 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 13 / Section 29-241
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-241
Status: in_force

If any member of the fire department and/or police department shall become or be found to be totally disabled for the discharge of his duties as a member of said fire department and/or police department, mentally or physically, by reason of sickness or injury caused or sustained by reason of service or discharge of his duty in said department, after such city shall have come within the terms of this article, said board of disability and relief shall order the payment and there shall be paid from said fund to said fireman and/or policeman each month thereafter an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of said fireman's and/or policeman's monthly salary. Such amount shall be paid throughout such total disability for service.

If any member of the fire department and/or police department shall become or be found to be permanently and totally disabled for the discharge of his duties as a member of said fire department and/or police department, mentally or physically, by reason of sickness or injury, and said member shall have had not less than five (5) years' service with such department, there shall be paid to said fireman and/or policeman from said fund, for each year's active service, not to exceed a period of twenty (20) years, one-fortieth ( 1 / 40 ) of the monthly salary of such fireman and/or policeman at the time such disability is incurred. Such amount shall be paid throughout such permanent and total disability.

In passing upon the question of disability, said board shall refer the matter to its medical board, or such other physician or physicians as it may deem proper, and said board may require like examinations from time to time throughout the period of disability claimed by said fireman and/or policeman.

If said city pays a salary to its fireman and/or policeman while disabled in an amount equal to the disability relief allowed hereunder, said fireman and/or policeman shall not be entitled to any disability relief hereunder.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-43-129 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 37 / Section 43-129
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-43-129
Status: in_force

The proceeds of any assessment imposed pursuant to an approved district plan shall be disbursed by the tax collector to the designated district management group on an agreed to scheduled basis. A business improvement district may operate on the calendar year or on the same fiscal year as that of the municipality. None of the proceeds collected pursuant to Sections 21-43-101 through 21-43-133 shall be used for any purposes other than those set forth in the initially approved or amended district plan. Improvements provided by a district using district funds may be undertaken only when the service, events, project or activity undertaken is not for the sole benefit of any particular property owner or other private party.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-145 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 29 / Section 29-145
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-145
Status: in_force

(1) If any member of the fire or police department dies in active service, or dies in inactive service on account of disability approved for disability relief under the provisions of Section 21-29-133 , as a result of injury received while in the discharge of duty in the service of the fire department or police department, or dies as a result of sickness or disease, due to the discharge of duty while in service as a member of the fire or police department, or if the member dies while entitled to relief after retirement under Section 21-29-139 , the amount of disability relief or retirement being paid, or which should have been properly paid, shall continue to be paid from the fund to the spouse of the deceased member for the use of the spouse and the child or children of the deceased member, so long as the spouse remains unmarried. If, after the marriage of the spouse, there remains a child or children of the deceased member, the payments shall continue to be made to a parent or lawful custodian of the child or children without the necessity of appointment as guardian for the benefit of the child or children. After the death or marriage of the spouse, all payments to the spouse shall cease, and after the death of any child or children of the deceased member, all payments to the child or children shall cease. If the deceased member is not survived by spouse or child or children, but is survived by a father, mother, or an unmarried sister dependent upon him or her, the payments shall continue to be made to the dependent father or mother or both, so long as each lives, or if there is no dependent father or mother surviving the deceased member, the payments shall continue to be made to the unmarried dependent sister or dependent sisters of the deceased, so long as the beneficiary or beneficiaries remain unmarried. Upon the death or marriage of any such sister, all payments shall cease to her. Payments to dependents under this section are for services rendered by the members of the fire and/or police department, and the amount of payment is within the discretion of the board of disability and relief, but in no event shall the amount payable under this section be in excess of the amount that would have been payable as disability and relief to a member of the department. If the father, mother , or sisters are not wholly dependent, then they shall not receive any amount in excess of the difference between the income of the father, mother, sister or sisters, and the amount that the deceased member would have been entitled to.

(2) For purposes of this section:

(a) “ Dependent ” means wholly dependent upon the deceased at the time of his death.

(b) “ Child ” or “ children ” means:

(i) Children of the deceased member under the age of eighteen (18);

(ii) Children of the deceased member eighteen (18) years of age or older who have not yet reached their twenty-third birthday and are pursuing a full-time education; or

(iii) Children of the deceased member who, though eighteen (18) years of age or older, are wholly dependent upon the deceased member and incapable of self-support by reason of mental or physical disability.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-9-37 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 3 / Section 9-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-9-37
Status: in_force

The mayor shall be the titular head of the city for all ceremonial purposes and for all processes of law. He shall be the president of the council and shall have a voice and vote in its proceedings, but no power of veto. He shall have no administrative powers. In case of his absence or disability, the council may appoint another of its members to fulfill his duties temporarily.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-1 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 17 / Section 27-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-1
Status: in_force

No municipality shall have the power to grant to any person, firm or corporation any exclusive franchise or any exclusive right to use or occupy the streets, highways, bridges, or public places in such municipality for any purpose. No municipality shall grant, renew, or extend any such franchise, privilege or right, without compensation or for any longer period than twenty-five years.

The provisions of this section shall be applicable to all municipalities of this state, whether operating under a code charter, special charter, or the commission form of government, except in cases of conflict between the provisions of this section and the provisions of the special charter of a municipality, or the law governing the commission form of government, in which cases of conflict the provisions of the special charter or the statutes relative to the commission form of government shall control.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-51 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 7 / Section 19-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-51
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of municipalities shall have the power and authority, in their discretion, to contribute, appropriate or donate to fair associations, domiciled in their respective county, a sum of money not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) per annum for the purpose of advertising, displaying, exhibiting or promoting the agricultural or industrial resources of such municipality or its respective county. The expenditure of such money, when contributed, appropriated or donated, shall be under the control of the municipality, and such governing authorities are hereby authorized and empowered to appoint one or as many as three individuals, in their discretion, to represent the municipal authorities in the proper expenditure of such money for said purpose in conjunction with the fair association. Before contributing, appropriating or donating any money to any fair association, such governing authorities shall publish notice of their intention to contribute, appropriate or donate money to said fair association, giving the amount of, and the date of making said contribution, appropriation or donation, in some newspaper published in the municipality, or having a general circulation therein if none be there published, for three weeks ending not less than ten days prior to the making of any contribution, appropriation or donation. If, before the making of said contribution, appropriation or donation, twenty per centum of the adult taxpayers of the municipality shall petition against such contribution, appropriation or donation, then the said contribution, appropriation or donation shall not be made, unless authorized by a majority of the electors voting in an election to be ordered for that purpose. All of the expenses of publishing the notice herein provided for and of holding any election hereunder shall be paid out of the municipal treasury.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-17-3 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 5 / Section 17-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-17-3
Status: in_force

The powers granted to municipalities by law shall be exercised by the governing authorities of such municipalities, in the manner provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-45 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 27 / Section 33-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-45
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of each municipality of this state shall, either at their regular meeting in September of each year or not later than ten (10) days after the final approval of the assessment rolls, levy the municipal ad valorem taxes for the fiscal year next succeeding, and shall, by resolution, fix the tax rate or levy for the municipality and for any other taxing districts of which the municipality may be a part. The rates or levies for the municipality or for any such taxing district shall be expressed in mills or a decimal fraction of a mill, which tax rates, or levies, shall determine the ad valorem taxes to be collected upon each dollar of valuation upon the assessment rolls of the municipality for municipal taxes, and to be collected upon each dollar of valuation as shown upon the assessment rolls of the municipality for each such taxing district, except as to such values as may be exempt, in whole or in part, from certain tax rates or levies. If the rates or levies for the municipality or taxing district are an increase from the previous fiscal year, then the proposed rate or levy increase shall be advertised in accordance with Section 27-39-203 .

In making the levy of taxes, the governing authorities shall specify in such resolution the levy for each purpose as follows:

(a) For general revenue purposes and for general improvements, as authorized by Section 27-39-307 .

(b) For school purposes, including all maintenance levies, whether made against the property within such municipality, or within any taxing district embraced in such municipality, as authorized by Section 27-39-307 and Section 37-57-3 et seq.

(c) For municipal bonds and interest thereon, for school bonds and interest thereon, separately for municipal-wide bonds and for the bonds of each school district.

(d) For municipal-wide bonds and interest thereon, other than for school bonds.

(e) For loans, notes or any other obligation, and the interest thereon, if permitted by law.

(f) For special improvement or special benefit levies, as now authorized by law.

(g) For any other purpose for which a levy is lawfully made. If any municipal-wide levy is made for any general or special purpose under the provisions of any law other than Section 27-39-307 each such levy shall be separately stated in the resolution, and the law authorizing same shall be expressly stated therein.

If the governing authorities of any municipality shall not levy the municipal taxes and the district taxes at its regular September meeting, such governing authorities shall levy the same at an adjourned or special meeting not later than ten (10) days after the final approval of the assessment rolls. However, that if such levy be not made on or before September 15 then road and bridge privilege tax license plates may be issued by the tax collector or Department of Revenue, as the case may be, for motor vehicles as defined in the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Law of 1958 ( Section 27-51-1 et seq. ), without collecting or requiring proof of payment of municipal ad valorem taxes until such levy is duly certified to him, and for twenty-four (24) hours thereafter.

In the case of a municipality operating under a special or private charter providing for or authorizing the assessment, levying and collection of ad valorem taxes prior to October in each year, ad valorem taxes for such municipality shall be levied at the time prescribed or authorized by such special or private charter, unless the governing authority of such municipality by resolution adopted and spread of record in its minutes elect to levy ad valorem taxes at the time prescribed hereinbefore in this section. In any event, however, all ad valorem taxes levied by any municipality in this state, shall be levied in the manner required herein regardless of the time when such taxes are levied.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-247 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 9 / Section 29-247
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-247
Status: in_force

(1) From and after January 1, 1971, all persons receiving retirement benefits under Section 21-29-245 , or becoming eligible for retirement benefits under Section 21-29-245 , and retiring or to be retired from service in a municipality having an assessed valuation of at least Three Hundred Forty Million Dollars $340,000,000.00, according to the 1967 compiled assessment rolls, shall receive in addition to all benefits set forth in Section 21-29-245 the following percentage increases as may be determined by the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government under the following formula:

In any calendar year following 1970 in which the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government for January exceeds the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government for the previous January, the pension payments beginning with March of the current year shall be increased in an amount equal to the percentage increase determined by the increase in the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government.

The accumulated percentage increases provided under this subsection (1) that may be developed by increases in the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government shall not exceed twelve percent (12%).

(2) From and after January 1, 2002, all persons receiving retirement benefits or disability retirement benefits under Section 21-29-241 or 21-29-245 or becoming eligible for retirement benefits or disability retirement benefits under Section 21-29-241 or 21-29-245 and retiring or to be retired from service in a municipality having an assessed valuation of at least Three Hundred Forty Million Dollars ($340,000,000.00), according to the 1967 complied assessment rolls, who are receiving a cost-of-living increase provided under subsection (1) of this section or Chapter 869, Local and Private Laws of 1992, as the case may be, that is equal to an accumulated percentage increase of twelve percent (12%) of the amount of the retirement benefits, shall receive the following cost-of-living increases: In addition to all benefits provided under Section 21-29-241 or 21-29-245 , and the cost-of-living increases provided under subsection (1) of this section or Chapter 869, Local and Private Laws of 1992, as the case may be, those persons shall receive the following percentage increases as may be determined by the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government under the following formula:

In any calendar year in which a person is eligible for cost-of-living increases under this subsection (2) in which the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government for January exceeds the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government for the previous January, the pension payments beginning with March of the current year shall be increased in an amount equal to the percentage increase determined by the increase in the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government.

The accumulated percentage increases provided under this subsection (2) that may be developed by increases in the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government shall not exceed seven and one-half percent (7- 1 / 2 %).

(3) Any person who is receiving minimum monthly benefits under Chapter 898, Local and Private Laws of 1987, shall receive in addition to all benefits provided under Chapter 898, Local and Private Laws of 1987, the following percentage increases as may be determined by the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government under the following formula:

In any calendar year following 2001 in which the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government for January exceeds the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government for the previous January, the pension payments beginning with March of the current year shall be increased in an amount equal to the percentage increase determined by the increase in the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government.

The accumulated percentage increases provided under this subsection (3) that may be developed by increases in the cost-of-living index as set by the United States government shall not exceed seven and one-half percent (7- 1 / 2 %).

(4) The cost-of-living increases authorized under subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall not be provided unless the disability and relief fund for firemen and policemen of any municipality to which this section applies:

(a) Is actuarially sound, as shown by the most recent actuarial study required by Section 21-29-221 ; and

(b) Will remain actuarially sound if the cost-of-living increases are provided, as shown by a certified statement from the actuarial firm that prepared the most recent actuarial study.

(5) The Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System shall provide the cost-of-living increases authorized under subsections (2) and (3) of this section to the persons authorized and entitled to receive them, after all of the following conditions have been met:

(a) The governing authorities of any municipality to which this section applies must adopt a resolution to provide for the cost-of-living increases, and transmit the resolution to the board of trustees;

(b) The advisory board on the disability and relief fund provided for in Section 21-29-207 must adopt a resolution supporting the providing of the cost-of-living increases, and transmit the resolution to the board of trustees; and

(c) The board of trustees must receive the resolutions from the governing authorities and the advisory board, and receive the most recent actuarial study of the disability and relief fund and the certified statement from the actuarial firm that the disability and relief fund will remain actuarially sound if the cost-of-living increases are provided.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-255.nr2 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 1 / Section 29-255.nr2
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-255.nr2
Status: in_force

(1) If any member of the fire or police department dies in active service, or dies in inactive service on account of disability approved for disability relief under Section 21-29-241 , as a result of injury received while in the discharge of duty in the service of the fire department or police department, or dies as a result of sickness or disease, due to the discharge of duty while in service as a member of the fire or police department, or if the member dies while entitled to relief after retirement under Section 21-29-245 , the amount of disability relief or retirement relief being paid, or which should have been properly paid, shall continue to be paid from the fund to the spouse of the deceased member for life for the use of the spouse and the child or children of the deceased member. If the deceased member is not survived by a spouse, but there remains a child or children of the deceased member, the payments shall continue to be made to a parent or lawful custodian of the child or children without the necessity of appointment as guardian for the benefit of the child or children. After the death of the spouse, all payments to the spouse shall cease, and after the death of any child or children of the deceased member, all payments to the child or children shall cease. If the deceased member is not survived by a spouse or child or children, but is survived by a father or a mother dependent upon him or her, the payments shall continue to be made to the dependent father or mother, or both, so long as each lives, or if there is no dependent father or mother surviving the deceased member, the payments shall continue to be made to the unmarried dependent sister or sisters of the deceased member, so long as the beneficiary or beneficiaries remain unmarried. Upon the death or marriage of any such sister, all payments shall cease to her. Payments to dependents under this section are for services rendered to the members of the fire and/or police department, and the amount of payments is within the discretion of the board of disability and relief, but in no event shall the amount payable under this section be in excess of the amount that would have been payable as disability and relief to a member of the department.

If any member of the fire or police department dies while a member of the fire department or police department, and the member has had not less than five (5) years' service with the department, there shall be paid from the firemen's and policemen's disability and relief fund the following benefits:

(a) For each year's active service, not to exceed a period of twenty (20) years, one-fortieth ( 1 / 40 ) of the average monthly salary or compensation received by the member in the six-month period next preceding his or her death; and

(b) For each full year of active service in excess of twenty (20) years service, an additional payment in a sum equal to one and seven-tenths percent (1- 7 / 10 %) of the same average monthly base salary and longevity pay received by the member in the six-month period next preceding his or her death (provided that no such payment shall exceed sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66- 2 / 3 %) of the average monthly base salary and longevity pay received by a member for the six-month period next preceding his or her death) to the spouse of the deceased member for the use of the spouse and the child or children of the deceased member, so long as the spouse lives and if, after the death of the spouse, there remains a child or children of the deceased member, the payments shall continue to be made to a parent or lawful custodian of the child or children without the necessity of appointment as guardian for the benefit of the child or children. After the death of the spouse, all payments to the spouse shall cease, and after the death of any child or children of the deceased member, all payments to the child or children shall cease. If the deceased member is not survived by spouse or child or children, but is survived by a father, mother or an unmarried sister dependent upon him or her, the payments shall continue to be made to the dependent father or mother or both, so long as each lives, or if there is no dependent father or mother surviving the deceased member, the payments shall continue to be made to the dependent sister or sisters of the deceased, or dependent incurable children, so long as the beneficiary or beneficiaries remains unmarried. Upon the death or marriage of any such sisters, all payments shall cease to her.

(2) For the purposes of this section:

(a) “ Dependent ” means wholly dependent.

(b) “ Child ” or “ children ” means:

(i) Children of the deceased member under the age of eighteen (18);

(ii) Children of the deceased member eighteen (18) years of age or older who have not yet reached their twenty-third birthday and are pursuing a full-time education; or

(iii) Children of the deceased member who, though eighteen (18) years of age or older, are wholly dependent upon the deceased and incapable of self-support by reason of mental or physical disability.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-45 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 1 / Section 29-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-45
Status: in_force

Upon proper application to the general retirement board, the benefits to dependents of deceased members and retirants shall be paid as follows:

(a) If any member dies for causes other than the performance of duty in the service of the municipality before completing five (5) years' service, there shall be paid to his or her designated beneficiary or his or her legal representative, if no beneficiary has been designated, from the employees' savings fund the sum equal to the amount accumulated in his or her individual account.

(b) If any member dies who has not had less than five (5) and not more than twenty (20) years' service with the municipality, there shall be paid to the spouse, from the retirement reserve fund, for each year's active service, not to exceed a period of twenty (20) years, one-fortieth ( 1 / 40 ) of the average monthly salary or compensation received by the member in the four-year or two-year period, as the case may be, next preceding the death, for the use of the spouse and the child or children of the deceased member under the age of eighteen (18) years, so long as the spouse remains unmarried. If, after the marriage of the spouse, there remains a child or children of the deceased member under the age of eighteen (18) years, the payments shall continue to be made to a parent or lawful custodian of the child or children without the necessity of appointment as guardian for the benefit of the child or children, so long as the child or children are under the age of eighteen (18) years. After the death or marriage of the spouse, all payments to the spouse shall cease, and after the death or attainment of eighteen (18) years of any child or children of the deceased, all payments to the child or children over eighteen (18) years of age shall cease. If the deceased member is not survived by a spouse or child or children under the age of eighteen (18) years, but is survived by a father or a mother dependent upon him or her, the payments shall continue to be made to the dependent father or mother, or both, so long as each lives. The word “ dependent ,” as used in this section, shall mean “wholly dependent,” as determined by the retirement board.

(c) If any member dies after having completed twenty (20) years' service as required by Section 21-29-31 , or if any retirant dies, there shall be paid from the retirement reserve fund to the spouse or the dependents designated in paragraph (b) of this section, the amount of benefits or retirement pay equal to the sum being paid to the deceased member or retirant, or which would have been paid to the deceased member or retirant if he or she had applied for benefits under this section, on the date of his or her death.

(d) If any member dies before becoming eligible to receive benefits under this article as a result of the performance of duty to the municipality, there shall be paid to the spouse or dependents designated in paragraph (b) of this section from the retirement reserve fund, an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the monthly salary of the deceased member on the date of his or her death. This amount shall be paid to the same beneficiaries and for the same period of time as those beneficiaries and periods of time set forth in paragraph (b) of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-169 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 27 / Section 27-169
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-169
Status: in_force

A municipality is authorized to make such applications and enter into such contracts for financial assistance in comprehensive planning as may be appropriate under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as now or hereafter amended; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 ( P. L. 92-500 ); under Chapter 23 and Chapter 26, Title 33, United States Code; under Chapter 9, Title 40, United States Code and under any other relevant statutes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-75 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 21 / Section 33-75
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-75
Status: in_force

After the time to redeem from the municipal tax sale has expired, or after the municipality has purchased land as provided by law, said municipality, acting through its governing authorities, shall take possession of said lands and shall endeavor to sell same as expeditiously as good business may require. However, it may lease said lands until a sale thereof can be made.

Said municipal governing authorities may lease or sell any of said lands to any person in any manner that may be prescribed by an order or resolution, which said order or resolution shall be entered in the minutes covering each particular tract of land so leased or sold, it being the intention of the legislature to vest in municipal authorities in each specific case of lease or sale the right to fix the price, terms, and conditions of each sale or lease.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-315 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 29 / Section 33-315
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-315
Status: in_force

All serial bonds issued by a municipality shall mature annually, with all maturities not longer than twenty (20) years, with not less than one-fiftieth ( 1 / 50 ) of the total issue to mature each year during the first five (5) years of the life of such bonds, not less than one-twenty-fifth ( 1 / 25 ) of the total issue to mature each year during the succeeding ten-year period of the life of such bonds, and the remainder to be amortized, as to principal and interest, into approximately equal annual payments, one (1) payment to mature each year for the remaining life of such bonds. However, in cases where bonds shall be issued or dated subsequent to the date fixed for making the municipal tax levy in the year in which such bonds are to be issued, the first maturity date of not less than one-fiftieth ( 1 / 50 ) of the total issue, may be fixed for any period not exceeding two (2) years from the date of the bonds with the same schedule of subsequent maturities as hereinabove set forth. Such bonds shall not bear a greater overall maximum interest rate to maturity than that allowed in Section 75-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972 . No bond shall bear more than one (1) rate of interest. Each bond shall bear interest from its date to its stated maturity date at the interest rate specified in the bid. All bonds of the same maturity shall bear the same rate of interest from date to maturity. All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually, except that the first interest coupon attached to any such bond may be for any period not exceeding one (1) year.

No interest payment shall be evidenced by more than one (1) coupon and neither cancelled nor supplemental coupons shall be permitted. The lowest interest rate specified for any bonds issued shall not be less than seventy percent (70%) of the highest interest rate specified for the same bond issue. The interest rate of any one (1) interest coupon shall not exceed the maximum interest rate allowed on such bonds.

Each interest rate specified in any bid must be in multiples of one-eighth of one percent ( 1 / 8 of 1%) or in multiples of one-tenth of one percent ( 1 / 10 of 1%). The denomination, form, and place, or places, of payment of such bonds shall be fixed in the resolution or ordinance of the governing authorities issuing such bonds. Such bonds shall be executed by the manual or facsimile signature of the mayor and clerk of such municipality, with the seal of the municipality affixed thereto. At least one (1) signature on each bond shall be a manual signature, as specified in the resolution. The coupons may bear only the facsimile signatures of such mayor and clerk. No bonds shall be issued and sold under the provisions of this article for less than par and accrued interest.

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, any municipality may issue a single-term bond payable annually which amortizes as described herein, complies with the other requirements described herein, and with a final maturity not longer than twenty (20) years.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-125 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 9 / Section 29-125
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-125
Status: in_force

The authority is vested in the board of trustees to invest such part of said fund as may not be immediately required, in investments authorized under Section 25-11-121 with the right to change said investment from time to time, and with the right and duty to convert invested funds into current funds as the same may be needed for the purpose of this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-5-1 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 1 / Section 5-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-5-1
Status: in_force

Any city may at any time, upon an election held as hereinafter provided, change the form of government of such city and adopt a commission form of government. It shall be the duty of the governing authorities of any such city to call a special election on the question of the adoption of the commission form of government upon receipt of a petition signed by at least ten per cent of the qualified electors of such city, praying that an election be held to determine whether or not such city shall abandon its existing form of government and adopt the commission form. Such special election shall be held in such city not less than thirty days, nor more than sixty days, from the date of making such order, but if a general election is to be held in such city within sixty days from the making of such order, then the question of the adoption of the commission form of government shall be submitted at such general election, rather than at a special election. Notice of such election shall be given as required by law, and the same shall be held and conducted as other elections in such city. At such election the propositions to be voted on shall be “FOR THE PRESENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT,” and “FOR THE COMMISSION FORM OF GOVERNMENT.” Such propositions shall be printed on the ballot and the elector shall vote by placing a cross (X) or check mark (✓) opposite his choice on the proposition. The results of such election shall be certified to the governing authorities of the city by the persons holding such election, and at their next regular meeting the governing authorities shall adjudicate on the minutes of the city whether or not the majority of the votes cast at such election were cast in favor of the commission form of government. If a majority of the votes were so cast in favor of the commission form of government, then an order shall be entered providing for the election of officers provided for by this chapter at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of June next thereafter. The mayor or chief executive officer of the city shall immediately certify to the secretary of state that such city has by election adopted the commission form of government, and such certificate shall be recorded in a book kept for that purpose by the secretary of state. If a majority of the votes cast at such election be in favor of the existing form of government, the governing authorities shall so adjudicate by an order upon their minutes, and another election submitting the question of the adoption of the commission form of government shall not be held for a period of at least four years thereafter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-73 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 8 / Section 31-73
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-73
Status: in_force

The fixing of the rate of compensation of every employee coming under the provisions of Sections 21-31-51 through 21-31-75 shall remain vested in those public officials authorized by law to fix the rate of such compensation, and nothing contained in said sections shall infringe upon the power and authority of any such public officials to so fix the rate of such compensation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-15-3 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 9 / Section 15-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-15-3
Status: in_force

At the first regular meeting of the governing authorities succeeding each regular municipal election, they shall elect the officers to be elected by them and such officers shall take the oath of office.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-49 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 5 / Section 29-49
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-49
Status: in_force

Should the retirement reserve fund at any time be insufficient to make all payments properly payable therefrom, the amounts available in said fund shall be properly prorated until such time as amounts available therein may be sufficient to make all payments payable therefrom in full.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-43-129 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 38 / Section 43-129
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-43-129
Status: in_force

The proceeds of any assessment imposed pursuant to an approved district plan shall be disbursed by the tax collector to the designated district management group on an agreed to scheduled basis. A business improvement district may operate on the calendar year or on the same fiscal year as that of the municipality. None of the proceeds collected pursuant to Sections 21-43-101 through 21-43-133 shall be used for any purposes other than those set forth in the initially approved or amended district plan. Improvements provided by a district using district funds may be undertaken only when the service, events, project or activity undertaken is not for the sole benefit of any particular property owner or other private party.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-41-37 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 37 / Section 41-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-41-37
Status: in_force

If any municipality in this state, including those operating under a special charter, having the power to construct or cause to be made improvements consisting of grading, paving, graveling or any other form of improvement to its streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks, gutters, sewerage or drainage, has levied or assessed or charged the cost thereof against the property abutting thereon and to the owners thereof, and has paid such cost and has not been paid therefor in full, and if in the judgment of the governing authorities of said municipalities, errors or irregularities have occurred in the assessing or computing of such cost, then such municipality is hereby authorized and empowered to ascertain the cost thereof and to add thereto accrued and unpaid interest, and to declare the same by resolution, and to correct errors or irregularities in said former assessment or assessments accordingly. In no event, however, shall the principal amount thereof, exclusive of interest, be increased.

When such errors or irregularities have been corrected, the assessment or assessments so made, and all steps and proceedings leading up thereto or precedent thereto are hereby confirmed and validated for all purposes and against all persons, and said assessment or assessments shall be in lieu of the assessment or assessments in which said errors or irregularities have been made or occurred. Such further proceedings may be had thereon to provide for and fix a lien on said property to secure the payment of said assessment or assessments, and for enforcing the collection thereof, and otherwise, in the same manner as is provided in this chapter, when valid assessments have been made that are not erroneous or irregular.

All orders, resolutions, ordinances, and proceedings relative to sidewalk, curb, or gutter improvements heretofore passed and adopted by any such municipality or its governing authorities, are hereby in all things made valid and binding regardless of defects or omissions or informalities or the failure to comply with any law or part of law relative thereto.

If and when it shall have been determined by said governing authorities that an over-assessment shall have been made against such person or property, such governing authorities are hereby authorized and empowered to give credit for or refund the amount of such excess.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-325 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 29 / Section 33-325
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-325
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of any municipality of this state shall have the power and authority to borrow money for the current expenses of such municipality in anticipation of the ad valorem taxes to be collected for the then current fiscal year. The governing authority of the municipality may borrow such money, as hereinbefore provided, from any available fund in the municipal treasury, or from any other source, and such loan shall be repaid in the manner herein provided. The money so borrowed shall bear interest at a rate not greater than that allowed in Section 75-17-105, Mississippi Code of 1972 , and shall be repaid not later than the following March 15, out of the first moneys collected by reason of the tax levy in anticipation of which such money is borrowed, and such money shall be used for no other purpose than the payment of the current expenses of such municipality. The amount borrowed under the provisions of this section shall in no event exceed fifty percent (50%) of the anticipated, but then uncollected, revenue to be produced by the then current tax levy, or levies, against which such money is borrowed. In borrowing money under the provisions hereof, it shall not be necessary to publish notice of intention so to do or to secure the consent of the qualified electors, either by election or otherwise. Such borrowing may be authorized by resolution of the governing authorities and may be evidenced by a negotiable note, or notes, signed and executed in such form as may be prescribed in such resolution. Money may be borrowed in anticipation of ad valorem taxes under the provisions of this section, regardless of whether or not such borrowing shall create an indebtedness in excess of statutory limitations.

Money may likewise be borrowed by the governing authorities of any municipality, as herein provided, for the purpose of paying current interest maturities on any bonded indebtedness of such municipality in anticipation of the collection of taxes for the retirement of such bonded indebtedness and the payment of any interest thereon.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-39 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 19 / Section 29-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-39
Status: in_force

Upon application of a member in service of the employer, any member who has had not less than five (5) years nor more than twenty (20) years' service with the employer and who has become totally and permanently incapacitated for duty, as a result of causes occurring other than in the performance of his duty, shall be retired by the board not less than thirty (30) nor more than ninety (90) days next following the date of filing such application, on a non-duty disability retirement allowance. Any such disability shall be certified to the board in the same manner as provided in Section 21-29-35 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-245 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 9 / Section 29-245
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-245
Status: in_force

If any member of said fire and/or police department who has been in paid fire and/or police department service for as long as twenty (20) years before making application hereinafter mentioned, the last ten (10) years of which shall have been continuous in the city in which the application is made, shall make written application for retirement and relief, the board of disability and relief shall without medical examinations of disability, retire him from active service in said fire and/or police department. Upon such retirement from active service said disability and relief board shall order the payment to such retired member monthly from said fund a sum equal to fifty percent (50%) of the average monthly base salary and longevity pay received as salary by such member in the six-month period next before the filing of such application in said fire and/or police department. Such payments shall thereafter be made to said retired member for life, such payments to be known as “retired relief.”

Any member of the fire and/or police department who has been in paid fire and/or police department service for longer than twenty (20) years shall be entitled to and shall receive additional retired relief payment for life in a sum equal to one and seven-tenths percent (1.7%) of the same monthly base salary and longevity pay received by such member in the six-month period next preceding the filing of said application for each full year of service in excess of twenty (20) years' service. However, such additional retired relief payment shall be paid only for each year served after July 1, 1966. No retired relief payment to any member shall exceed sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66- 2 / 3 %) of the average monthly base salary and longevity pay received by a member for the six-month period next preceding the filing of said application, except such other additional benefits as may be hereinafter provided.

The board of disability and relief shall, when a member of the fire and/or police department completes thirty-five (35) years of paid employment, or attains the age of sixty (60), whichever occurs first, retire him from active service in said fire and/or police department and order the payment of such funds as the member is entitled to under this article.

Periods of time in which a member may have been inactive on account of physical or mental disability shall not be excluded in computing the twenty-year period and the ten-year period hereinabove mentioned. Neither shall there be excluded therefrom periods of time within which a member may have been absent from his employment while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, or any civil employee engaged by the Armed Forces of the United States while serving outside the continental United States, in time of war during World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, Cuban Crisis, Berlin Crisis, Vietnam Conflict, or when involuntarily called on active duty, provided that the maximum period for such creditable service shall be four (4) years unless positive proof can be furnished by such person that he was retained in the Armed Forces by cause beyond his control, and without opportunity of discharge, and provided that the discharge or release of such member from the Armed Forces was under conditions other than dishonorable. Any member who has been retired or is voluntarily retired hereunder, or who has received relief or disability benefits hereunder, shall be required to report such duties as then may be required of them.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-21 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 19 / Section 33-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-21
Status: in_force

The assessor shall, in the same manner and at the same time as municipal assessments are made, make an assessment of all taxable property in any added territory, and make the same a part of the assessment roll of the municipal separate school district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-207 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 3 / Section 29-207
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-207
Status: in_force

The Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi shall organize itself into a body to be known as the “Board of Disability and Relief of the City of __________.”

In each municipality there shall be a board to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System with respect to matters concerning the disability and relief fund. Such board shall consist of five (5) members as follows: two (2) shall be elected by the membership of the police department, two (2) shall be elected by the membership of the fire department and the mayor or his designee shall be an ex officio member. Retired members of the police department and fire department may participate in elections to choose members of the board, and such retired members are also eligible to serve on the board. The term of elected members shall be for four (4) years, and any vacancy in the elected membership shall be filled in the same manner as the original membership was selected.

The members of the board shall receive no compensation or pay from the disability and relief fund for firemen and policemen for the discharge of their duties, except as otherwise provided by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-37 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 29 / Section 33-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-37
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided in Section 21-33-10 , if the board of municipal authorities shall fail to hold any meeting for the equalization of assessment rolls or for hearing objections to assessments or if the board fails to give the proper notice to the taxpayers, it shall immediately proceed to give the required notice and to hold the necessary meetings and do the necessary things in connection with the completion of the assessment roll. When the notice has been given as required by law, the board shall proceed to deal with the rolls with all the powers and duties as are now prescribed by law, except as to the time. If the board fails to hold any meeting, or give any notice, or to perform any other duty in reference to the assessment rolls, at the time required by law, such duty shall be performed at a later date upon the giving of legal and proper notice to the persons affected.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-21-39 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 15 / Section 21-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-21-39
Status: in_force

Any law enforcement officer who is ordered by the official designated by the governing body of any municipality to perform police or peace duties outside the territorial limits of the municipality where he is regularly employed as such officer, shall be entitled to the same wage, salary, pension, and all other compensation and all other rights for such service, including injury or death benefits, as though the service had been rendered within the limits of the municipality where he is regularly employed. He shall also be paid for any reasonable expenses of travel, food, or lodging that he may incur while on duty outside such limits.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-97 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 17 / Section 27-97
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-97
Status: in_force

Any reproduction or copy of any original record shall be deemed to be the original record for all purposes and shall be admissible as evidence in all courts or administrative agencies. A facsimile, exemplification or certified copy thereof shall, for all purposes set forth herein, be deemed to be a transcript, exemplification or certified copy of the original record.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-87 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 8 / Section 33-87
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-87
Status: in_force

The municipal governing authorities shall have the power to levy and collect annually taxes on all the taxable property within the municipal limits, in addition to other taxes, in a sufficient amount, for the purpose of paying the interest coupons as they become due on all bonds of the municipality now issued or hereafter to be issued, and the bonds themselves, which tax shall be payable only in cash or in matured coupons or bonds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-43-131 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 37 / Section 43-131
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-43-131
Status: in_force

The initial authorization for any business improvement district shall be for ten (10) years. During the last twelve (12) months of the tenth year of the authorization, a new district plan must be developed which meets all of the initial requirements of the district plan plus reauthorizes the district for another ten (10) years. Reauthorization requires the same approval process as initial establishment and authorization of the district. Should the district fail to receive reauthorization from the affected property owners in the district, the business improvement district will cease to exist at the conclusion of the most recently approved ten-year period or as soon thereafter as any outstanding indebtedness is satisfied. The ability to reauthorize rests solely with the affected property owners in the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-37-9 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 35 / Section 37-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-37-9
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of municipalities shall have the power and authority to regulate the crossings of railways, and to provide precautions and prescribe rules regulating the same. Said authorities shall have the power and authority to make any other and further provisions, rules and regulations to prevent accidents at crossings and on the tracks of railroads, and to prevent fires from engines. Said authorities shall have the power and authority to require railroad companies to erect viaducts over or gates across their tracks at the crossing of streets.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-1 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 19 / Section 19-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-1
Status: in_force

(1) The municipal governing authorities of any municipality shall have the power to make regulations to secure the general health of the municipality; to prevent, remove, and abate nuisances; to regulate or prohibit the construction of privy vaults and cesspools, and to regulate or suppress those already constructed; to compel and regulate the connection of all property with sewers and drains; to suppress hog pens, slaughterhouses and stockyards, or to regulate the same and prescribe and enforce regulations for cleaning and keeping the same in order; to regulate and prescribe and enforce regulations for the cleaning and keeping in order of warehouses, stables, alleys, yards, private ways, outhouses, and other places where offensive matter is kept or permitted to accumulate; and to compel and regulate the removal of garbage and filth beyond the corporate limits. The municipal governing authorities are further authorized to adopt and enforce regulations governing the disposal of garbage and rubbish in sanitary landfills owned or leased by the municipality, whether located within or outside of the corporate limits of the municipality, to the extent that such regulations are not in conflict with or prohibited by regulations of the Commission on Environmental Quality adopted under Section 17-17-27 .

(2) After December 31, 1992, the governing body of any municipality in the state shall provide for the collection and disposal of garbage and the disposal of rubbish, and for that purpose the governing body shall have the power to:

(a) Establish, operate and maintain a garbage and/or rubbish collection and disposal system or systems;

(b) Acquire property, real or personal, by contract, gift or purchase, necessary or proper for the maintenance and operation of such system;

(c) Make all necessary rules and regulations for the collection and disposal of garbage and/or rubbish not in conflict with or prohibited by rules and regulations of the Commission on Environmental Quality adopted under Section 17-17-27 and, if it so desires, establish, maintain and collect rates, fees and charges for collecting and disposing of such garbage and/or rubbish; and

(d) In its discretion, enter into contracts, in the manner required by law, with individuals, associations or corporations for the establishment, operation and maintenance of a garbage or rubbish disposal system or systems, and/or enter into contracts on such terms as the municipal governing body thinks proper with any other municipality, county or region enabling the municipality to use jointly with such other municipality, county or region any authorized rubbish landfill or permitted sanitary landfill operated by the other municipality, other county or region.

As a necessary incident to such municipal governing authority's power and authority to establish, maintain and collect such rates, fees and charges for collecting and disposing of such garbage and/or rubbish, and as a necessary incident to such municipal governing authority's power and authority to establish, operate and maintain a garbage and/or rubbish disposal system or systems, the municipal governing authority of such municipality shall have the authority to initiate a civil action to recover any delinquent fees and charges for collecting and disposing of such rubbish, and all administrative and legal costs associated with collecting such fees and charges, in the event any person, firm or corporation, including any municipal corporation, shall fail or refuse to pay such fees and charges for collecting and disposing of garbage and/or rubbish; provided that such municipal governing authority may initiate such a civil action to recover such delinquent fees and charges whether or not such municipality has previously entered into a contract with such individual, firm or corporation, relating to the establishment, operation and maintenance of such garbage and/or rubbish disposal system or systems; provided further, that in a civil action to recover such delinquent fees and charges for collecting and disposing of such garbage and/or rubbish, and all administrative and legal costs associated with collecting such fees and charges, the municipality shall in all respects be a proper party to such suit as plaintiff and shall have the power to sue for and recover such unpaid fees and charges, and all administrative and legal costs associated with collecting such fees and charges from any person, firm or corporation, as may fail, refuse or default in the payment of such fees and charges.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-257 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 7 / Section 29-257
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-257
Status: in_force

No part of said fund to which any of said firemen or policemen shall be entitled, or which may be payable or ordered paid to him shall be seized, attached, assigned or levied upon by any writ of attachment, garnishment, execution, sequestration or other like process or writ.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-15 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 8 / Section 31-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-15
Status: in_force

All applicants for a position of any kind under civil service must be a citizen of the United States and an elector of the county in which he resides and must meet only such bona fide occupational residency requirements as may be determined by the municipal board of civil service commissions or the governing authority of the municipality.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-149 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 21 / Section 29-149
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-149
Status: in_force

Should said fund at any time be insufficient to make all payments properly payable therefrom, the beneficiaries shall not file any suit against said city, its governing authorities, or said disability and relief board, but the amounts available shall be properly prorated until such time as funds may be sufficient to make all payments payable thereafter for the full amount properly allowed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-5 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 23 / Section 27-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-5
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of municipalities shall have the power to grant to any person, corporation, or association, on such terms and conditions as the governing authorities may prescribe, the use of the streets, alleys and other public grounds for the purpose of laying, constructing, repairing and maintaining gas, water, sewer, or steam pipes, or conduits for electric light, telegraph and telephone lines, and pipe lines for the purpose of transporting crude oil, crude petroleum, kerosene, gasoline, and other commodities transportable by pipe line. However, such franchise, right-of-way or privilege of any character whatsoever shall not be granted for a longer period than twenty-five years, and such privilege shall not be exclusive.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-65 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 15 / Section 31-65
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-65
Status: in_force

For the benefit of the public service and to prevent delay, injury, or interruption therein by reason of the enactment of Sections 21-31-51 through 21-31-75 , all persons holding a position as an administrative or other employee (firemen and policemen excepted) of any such municipality coming under the provisions of Sections 21-31-51 through 21-31-75 , who shall have served continuously in such positions for a period of at least the preceding six months, are hereby declared eligible for permanent appointment under civil service to the offices, positions or employments which they shall then hold, respectively, without examination or other act on their part, and not on probation, and every such person is hereby automatically adopted and inducted permanently into civil service, into such office, place, position or employment which such person then holds as completely and effectually to all intents and purposes as if said person had been permanently appointed thereto under civil service after examination and investigation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-37-51 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 35 / Section 37-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-37-51
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of municipalities shall have the power to have a survey and map made of the streets, blocks and lots. When corrected and approved by such municipal authorities, the map so made shall constitute the official map of the municipality, and a duplicate thereof shall be recorded in the office of the chancery clerk of the county, in the manner prescribed by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-37-39 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 35 / Section 37-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-37-39
Status: in_force

The park commission of any such municipality shall devote all moneys derived by appropriation from the municipal governing authorities, by gift, by revenue, or from any other source, for the payment of all maintenance and operating expenses, the purchase of parks and playground equipment, the repair and replacement thereof, and for the extension of recreational facilities for the wholesome and healthful recreation of all citizens of such municipality.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-43-123 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 38 / Section 43-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-43-123
Status: in_force

(1) A business improvement district may be funded in whole or in part by an assessment authorized pursuant to this section. Such assessment shall be in addition to any taxes or assessments that may be imposed on property that is included in the district.

(2) The assessment shall be levied on the property in the district based upon the gross square footage of the property. The district plan shall set the amount that shall be assessed on each square foot of property. A district plan may authorize that the assessment per square foot for buildings may be at a different rate than that for land; provided, however, that the square foot rate for each type of property shall be uniform.

(3) Upon presentation of a district plan by a district created pursuant to Sections 21-43-101 through 21-43-133 , the governing authorities of a municipality shall, at the same time and in the same manner as ad valorem taxes are levied, levy the assessment provided for in this section on the property in the district in the amount specified in the district plan.

(4) Assessments shall constitute a lien upon the respective lots or parcels of land and other real property upon which they are levied, superior to all other liens except those for state and county taxes.

(5) In addition to the assessment authorized under this section, a business improvement district shall also be authorized and empowered to apply for and receive public and private grants and to accept any monetary contribution or donation of real or personal property.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-101 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 27 / Section 27-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-101
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of any municipality not operating with a public utility commission, is hereby authorized to pay all expenses incurred in reproducing such records and in making provision for the preservation, retention and storage of such reproductions from the general fund of such municipality. A municipal public utility commission shall pay for the same from the earnings of the municipally-owned utility or utilities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-217 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 5 / Section 27-217
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-217
Status: in_force

(1) Any person found by the board or commission, as the case may be, or any duly designated hearing officer appointed thereby, violating any of the provisions of Sections 21-27-201 through 21-27-221 , or any rule or regulation promulgated by the board or commission hereunder, or any order issued by the board or commission in the exercise of their authority and duties hereunder, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), for each violation, such penalty to be levied and assessed by the board or commission or designated hearing officer. Appeals from such actions may be taken as provided hereinafter. Each day upon which a violation occurs shall be deemed a separate and additional violation.

In determining the amount of any monetary penalty assessed hereunder, the board or commission or duly appointed hearing officer shall consider all factors bearing upon the violation, including but not limited to, any resulting actual or probable pollution of the lands and/or waters of the state and/or endangerment to public health, and the nature and extent thereof, any violation of the terms or conditions of permits issued by the board or commission for the affected facility, and any actual or probable damage to the affected facility caused by improper operation thereof.

(2) In lieu of, or in addition to, the penalty provided in subsection (1) of this section, the board and commission shall have power to institute and maintain in the name of the state any and all proceedings necessary or appropriate to enforce the provisions of Sections 21-27-201 through 21-27-221 , rules and regulations in force pursuant hereto, and orders and operator certifications made and issued hereunder, in the appropriate circuit, chancery, county or justice court of the county in which venue may lie. The board and commission may obtain mandatory or prohibitory injunctive relief, either temporary or permanent.

(3) Any person found guilty of violating any provision of Sections 21-27-201 through 21-27-221 , upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per day of violation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-21-9 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 21 / Section 21-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-21-9
Status: in_force

In all municipalities of this state maintaining a police department, the personnel of which department is actively and exclusively engaged in police duty, the governing authorities of such municipality may pay out of the general fund of said municipality reasonable hospital and medical expenses for any member of said police department on account of any occupational disease contracted or for any accident sustained by said member by reason of his service or discharge of his duty in said department. The governing authorities of such city shall be the sole judge as to whether such illness or such injury was contracted or sustained in the line of duty of any such employee, and the reasonableness of said expenses.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-125 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 21 / Section 29-125
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-125
Status: in_force

The authority is vested in the board of trustees to invest such part of said fund as may not be immediately required, in investments authorized under Section 25-11-121 with the right to change said investment from time to time, and with the right and duty to convert invested funds into current funds as the same may be needed for the purpose of this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-316 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 17 / Section 29-316
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-316
Status: in_force

(1) Pursuant to the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992 ( Public Law 102-318 (UCA)), a member or the spouse of a member who is an eligible beneficiary entitled to a refund under Article 1, 3 or 5 of this chapter may elect on a form prescribed by the board under rules and regulations established by the board, to have an eligible rollover distribution of accumulated contributions payable under this section paid directly to an eligible retirement plan, as defined under applicable federal law, or an individual retirement account. If the member or the spouse of a member who is an eligible beneficiary makes that election and specifies the eligible retirement plan or individual retirement account to which the distribution is to be paid, the distribution will be made in the form of a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer to the specified eligible retirement plan. A non-spouse beneficiary may elect to have an eligible rollover distribution paid in the form of a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer to an individual retirement account established to receive the distribution on behalf of the non-spouse beneficiary. Flexible rollovers under this subsection shall not be considered assignments under Section 21-29-307 .

(2) From and after July 1, 2001, subject to the rules adopted by the board of trustees, any plan under this chapter shall accept an eligible rollover distribution or a direct transfer of funds from another eligible retirement plan or an individual retirement account in payment of all or a portion of the cost to repay a refund as permitted by the plan. The plans may only accept rollover payments in an amount equal to or less than the balance due for reinstatement of service credit. The rules adopted by the board of trustees shall condition the acceptance of a rollover or transfer from another eligible retirement plan on the receipt of information necessary to enable the system to determine the eligibility of any transferred funds for tax-free rollover treatment or other treatment under federal income tax law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-15-37 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 1 / Section 15-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-15-37
Status: in_force

(1) The governing authority of a municipality shall have the power and authority, in its discretion, to destroy or dispose of any records, documents, files or papers which are required by law to be preserved and retained, or which are necessary or desirable to be preserved or retained, after having reproductions made thereof under standards established by the Department of Archives and History and in accordance with a records control schedule approved by the Local Government Records Committee as provided in Section 25-60-1 .

(2) Any reproductions or copy of any original record or other documents shall be deemed to be the original record for all purposes and shall be admissible as evidence in all courts or administrative agencies. A facsimile, exemplification or certified copy thereof shall, for all purposes set forth herein, be deemed to be a transcript, exemplification or certified copy of the original record.

(3) The governing authority of any municipality is hereby authorized to pay all expenses incurred in reproducing such records or other documents and in making provision for the preservation, retention and storage of such reproductions from the general support fund of such municipality.

(4) When any of the records or documents of which reproductions are made under the provisions of this section, are declared by law, or are by their nature, confidential and privileged records, then the reproduction thereof shall likewise be deemed to be confidential and privileged to the same extent as the original records or documents.

(5) Nothing herein shall be construed to require the keeping and preservation of any records and documents which are not required by law to be kept and preserved, or which it is not desirable or necessary to keep and preserve, and such records and documents may be destroyed or disposed of in accordance with a records control schedule approved by the Local Government Records Committee as provided in Section 25-60-1 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-25-1 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 9 / Section 25-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-25-1
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of municipalities shall have the power to appoint a fire marshal, who may be the mayor, or any member of the governing authority of the municipality, or the city or town marshal. The fire marshal shall have the power to remove and keep away from the vicinity of any fire all idle and suspicious persons lurking near the same. He shall have the power to compel any person present to aid in the extinguishment of such fire or the preservation of property exposed to the danger of such fire and to aid in preventing goods from being purloined thereat. He shall also have such powers and duties as may be prescribed by ordinance.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-1 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 9 / Section 19-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-1
Status: in_force

(1) The municipal governing authorities of any municipality shall have the power to make regulations to secure the general health of the municipality; to prevent, remove, and abate nuisances; to regulate or prohibit the construction of privy vaults and cesspools, and to regulate or suppress those already constructed; to compel and regulate the connection of all property with sewers and drains; to suppress hog pens, slaughterhouses and stockyards, or to regulate the same and prescribe and enforce regulations for cleaning and keeping the same in order; to regulate and prescribe and enforce regulations for the cleaning and keeping in order of warehouses, stables, alleys, yards, private ways, outhouses, and other places where offensive matter is kept or permitted to accumulate; and to compel and regulate the removal of garbage and filth beyond the corporate limits. The municipal governing authorities are further authorized to adopt and enforce regulations governing the disposal of garbage and rubbish in sanitary landfills owned or leased by the municipality, whether located within or outside of the corporate limits of the municipality, to the extent that such regulations are not in conflict with or prohibited by regulations of the Commission on Environmental Quality adopted under Section 17-17-27 .

(2) After December 31, 1992, the governing body of any municipality in the state shall provide for the collection and disposal of garbage and the disposal of rubbish, and for that purpose the governing body shall have the power to:

(a) Establish, operate and maintain a garbage and/or rubbish collection and disposal system or systems;

(b) Acquire property, real or personal, by contract, gift or purchase, necessary or proper for the maintenance and operation of such system;

(c) Make all necessary rules and regulations for the collection and disposal of garbage and/or rubbish not in conflict with or prohibited by rules and regulations of the Commission on Environmental Quality adopted under Section 17-17-27 and, if it so desires, establish, maintain and collect rates, fees and charges for collecting and disposing of such garbage and/or rubbish; and

(d) In its discretion, enter into contracts, in the manner required by law, with individuals, associations or corporations for the establishment, operation and maintenance of a garbage or rubbish disposal system or systems, and/or enter into contracts on such terms as the municipal governing body thinks proper with any other municipality, county or region enabling the municipality to use jointly with such other municipality, county or region any authorized rubbish landfill or permitted sanitary landfill operated by the other municipality, other county or region.

As a necessary incident to such municipal governing authority's power and authority to establish, maintain and collect such rates, fees and charges for collecting and disposing of such garbage and/or rubbish, and as a necessary incident to such municipal governing authority's power and authority to establish, operate and maintain a garbage and/or rubbish disposal system or systems, the municipal governing authority of such municipality shall have the authority to initiate a civil action to recover any delinquent fees and charges for collecting and disposing of such rubbish, and all administrative and legal costs associated with collecting such fees and charges, in the event any person, firm or corporation, including any municipal corporation, shall fail or refuse to pay such fees and charges for collecting and disposing of garbage and/or rubbish; provided that such municipal governing authority may initiate such a civil action to recover such delinquent fees and charges whether or not such municipality has previously entered into a contract with such individual, firm or corporation, relating to the establishment, operation and maintenance of such garbage and/or rubbish disposal system or systems; provided further, that in a civil action to recover such delinquent fees and charges for collecting and disposing of such garbage and/or rubbish, and all administrative and legal costs associated with collecting such fees and charges, the municipality shall in all respects be a proper party to such suit as plaintiff and shall have the power to sue for and recover such unpaid fees and charges, and all administrative and legal costs associated with collecting such fees and charges from any person, firm or corporation, as may fail, refuse or default in the payment of such fees and charges.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-211 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 25 / Section 33-211
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-211
Status: in_force

All administrative provisions of Chapter 65 of Title 27 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 , including those which fix damages, penalties and interest for nonpayment of sales tax and for noncompliance with the provisions of said chapter and all other requirements and duties imposed upon the taxpayer, shall apply to all persons liable for city utility taxes under the provisions of the City Utility Tax Law. The chairman shall exercise all power and authority and perform all duties with respect to taxpayers under the City Utility Tax Law as are provided in said chapter, except where there is conflict, then the provisions of the City Utility Tax Law shall control. Any damages, penalties, or interest collected for the nonpayment of taxes, or for noncompliance with the provisions of the City Utility Tax Law, shall be paid to the municipality in which said damages were collected on the same basis and in the same manner as the tax. Any overpayment of tax for any reason that has been disbursed to any municipality or any payment of the tax to any municipality in error may be adjusted by the chairman on any subsequent payment to the municipality involved pursuant to the provisions of the said chapter. The chairman may from time to time make such rules and regulations not inconsistent with the City Utility Tax Law as may be deemed necessary to carry out its provisions and such rules and regulations shall have the full force and effect of law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-137 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 17 / Section 27-137
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-137
Status: in_force

The governing authority of the municipality may revoke or suspend such permit and demand the return of such badge upon proof that the holder while driving, or while in charge of such motor vehicle:

(a) was intoxicated, or noticeably under the influence of intoxicating liquor; or,

(b) had disturbed the peace while so engaged; or,

(c) had recklessly disregarded the speed regulations prescribed by law; or,

(d) had been guilty of knowingly transporting intoxicating liquor; or,

(e) had carried concealed weapons in violation of law; or,

(f) had knowingly transported persons for the purpose of gaming or prostitution, or for the purpose of obtaining intoxicating liquor.

The said authority may by ordinance prescribe other reasonable rules and regulations governing the use and operation of motor vehicles for hire within the municipality, and cause the same to be observed by such driver or operator, under penalty of revocation or suspension of such permit. Any person whose permit to drive or operate a motor vehicle for hire has been suspended or revoked may appeal to the circuit court from such order in the manner provided for appeals from orders of the governing authority of municipalities, but such appeal shall not operate as a supersedeas of said order.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-61 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 7 / Section 31-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-61
Status: in_force

The provisions of Sections 21-31-51 through 21-31-75 shall include all administrative and other employees on a monthly salary basis. All appointments to and promotions in said departments shall be made solely on merit, efficiency and fitness which may be ascertained by open competitive examination and impartial investigation. No person shall be reinstated in, or transferred, suspended or discharged from, any place, position or employment contrary to the provisions of Sections 21-31-51 through 21-31-75 .

All incumbents and future appointees shall be subject to civil service, except, however, those appointees now and hereafter serving as extra members, which employees shall be subject to removal for replacement by any person now or hereafter serving in the armed services; or, if temporarily employed, the commission shall have authority to so determine and replace with a new employee who shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 21-31-51 through 21-31-75 .

The provisions of Sections 21-31-51 through 21-31-75 shall not include any new employee who has not successfully completed all requirements necessary to earn regular or permanent status as a municipal employee.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-151 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 13 / Section 29-151
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-151
Status: in_force

This article shall apply to municipalities whether under private charter or existing and operating under the general statutes of the State of Mississippi.

This article is supplementary to any laws heretofore passed and the provisions of this article are not applicable to any municipality operating under Article 5 of this chapter. It is the intention of the legislature to make it mandatory on municipalities to enforce the provisions of this article, unless a majority of those voting in an election thereon vote otherwise.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-61 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 8 / Section 27-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-61
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of any municipality shall devote all monies of the system derived from any source other than the issuance of bonds for purposes authorized by the laws of the State of Mississippi, to or for the payment of all operating expenses, including such items as are normally required of utilities for sales development; to or for the payment of all bonds and interest on outstanding revenue bonds, if any, of such system; to or for the acquisition and improvement of the system contingencies; to or for the payment of all other obligations incurred in the operation and maintenance of the system and the furnishing of service; and to or for the creation and maintenance of a cash working fund or a surplus fund to be used for replacement, extension of systems and emergencies. The balance of any monies, including but not limited to, any which have heretofore been classified as revenues or surplus of such system, if any, may be used for any lawful, municipal purpose and may be paid to the governing authorities of the municipality for distribution to the various municipal funds or may be disbursed for such purpose by the governing authorities at their direction. The purpose of any allocation or expenditure of money made pursuant to this section shall be spread upon the minutes of the municipal governing authorities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-3 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 21 / Section 29-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-3
Status: in_force

The following words and phrases when used in this article, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Retirement system” shall mean a retirement system as authorized by this article;

(b) “Board” shall mean the retirement board provided for in this article to administer the retirement system;

(c) “Municipality” shall mean any city, as defined by Section 21-1-1 which has a population of twenty-one thousand (21,000), or more;

(d) “Governing body” shall mean the legislative body, board or commission of any municipality, as defined in subsection (c) of this section;

(e) “Employer” shall mean a municipality, as defined in subsection (c) of this section, which has elected, as by this article provided, to provide a retirement system;

(f) “Employee” shall mean all administrative and other employees on a monthly salary basis, excepting policemen, firemen, and school teachers;

(g) “Member” shall mean any municipal employee included in the membership of the retirement system;

(h) “Beneficiary” shall mean any person in receipt of an annuity, pension, or retirement allowance granted under the provisions of this article;

(i) “Compensation” shall mean the remuneration paid the employee in cash or warrant out of public funds in return for his services to the employer, plus the monetary value, as determined by the governing body, of whatever living quarters or other thing of monetary value the employer furnishes him in return for his services. Compensation in addition to an employee's base salary that is paid to the employee at the time of his retirement for unused accumulated annual leave, sick leave or both, pursuant to the vacation and sick leave policies of the employer, shall be excluded from the calculation of compensation under this article;

(j) “Accumulated contributions” shall mean the sum of all amounts deducted from the compensation of a member and credited to his individual account in the employees' savings fund, together with interest thereon as by this article provided;

(k) “Service” shall mean time spent as an employee of one (1) employer, the time spent in the employ of one (1) employer under this article not being transferable nor to be considered by any other employer under this article. Service shall not include any unused accumulated annual leave, sick leave or both that any employee has at the time of his retirement pursuant to the vacation and sick leave policies of the employer;

(l) “Prior service” shall mean time spent in the employ of an employer, under this article, prior to the effective date of the retirement system; provided, the time spent in the employ of one (1) employer under this article may not be transferable nor considered by any other employer under this article.

Words of the masculine gender shall include words of the feminine gender and vice versa, and words of the singular number in relation to persons shall include the plural number and vice versa.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-45 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 7 / Section 33-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-33-45
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of each municipality of this state shall, either at their regular meeting in September of each year or not later than ten (10) days after the final approval of the assessment rolls, levy the municipal ad valorem taxes for the fiscal year next succeeding, and shall, by resolution, fix the tax rate or levy for the municipality and for any other taxing districts of which the municipality may be a part. The rates or levies for the municipality or for any such taxing district shall be expressed in mills or a decimal fraction of a mill, which tax rates, or levies, shall determine the ad valorem taxes to be collected upon each dollar of valuation upon the assessment rolls of the municipality for municipal taxes, and to be collected upon each dollar of valuation as shown upon the assessment rolls of the municipality for each such taxing district, except as to such values as may be exempt, in whole or in part, from certain tax rates or levies. If the rates or levies for the municipality or taxing district are an increase from the previous fiscal year, then the proposed rate or levy increase shall be advertised in accordance with Section 27-39-203 .

In making the levy of taxes, the governing authorities shall specify in such resolution the levy for each purpose as follows:

(a) For general revenue purposes and for general improvements, as authorized by Section 27-39-307 .

(b) For school purposes, including all maintenance levies, whether made against the property within such municipality, or within any taxing district embraced in such municipality, as authorized by Section 27-39-307 and Section 37-57-3 et seq.

(c) For municipal bonds and interest thereon, for school bonds and interest thereon, separately for municipal-wide bonds and for the bonds of each school district.

(d) For municipal-wide bonds and interest thereon, other than for school bonds.

(e) For loans, notes or any other obligation, and the interest thereon, if permitted by law.

(f) For special improvement or special benefit levies, as now authorized by law.

(g) For any other purpose for which a levy is lawfully made. If any municipal-wide levy is made for any general or special purpose under the provisions of any law other than Section 27-39-307 each such levy shall be separately stated in the resolution, and the law authorizing same shall be expressly stated therein.

If the governing authorities of any municipality shall not levy the municipal taxes and the district taxes at its regular September meeting, such governing authorities shall levy the same at an adjourned or special meeting not later than ten (10) days after the final approval of the assessment rolls. However, that if such levy be not made on or before September 15 then road and bridge privilege tax license plates may be issued by the tax collector or Department of Revenue, as the case may be, for motor vehicles as defined in the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Law of 1958 ( Section 27-51-1 et seq. ), without collecting or requiring proof of payment of municipal ad valorem taxes until such levy is duly certified to him, and for twenty-four (24) hours thereafter.

In the case of a municipality operating under a special or private charter providing for or authorizing the assessment, levying and collection of ad valorem taxes prior to October in each year, ad valorem taxes for such municipality shall be levied at the time prescribed or authorized by such special or private charter, unless the governing authority of such municipality by resolution adopted and spread of record in its minutes elect to levy ad valorem taxes at the time prescribed hereinbefore in this section. In any event, however, all ad valorem taxes levied by any municipality in this state, shall be levied in the manner required herein regardless of the time when such taxes are levied.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-57 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 9 / Section 29-57
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-57
Status: in_force

Nothing in this article shall limit or otherwise restrict the power of the governing body of any municipality that has a retirement system under this article to adopt such vacation and sick leave policies for its employees as it deems necessary. Any such municipality having a vacation and sick leave policy that provides for the payment of unused accumulated annual leave, personal leave or both to employees at the time of their retirement shall be authorized to make such payments to any employee who retires or has retired after September 30, 1991.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-23 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 8 / Section 27-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-23
Status: in_force

Any municipality may:

(a) Borrow money and issue revenue bonds therefor solely for the purposes specified in this section and by the procedure provided in Sections 21-27-41 through 21-27-69 .

Money may be borrowed and bonds issued by any municipality of the State of Mississippi, as defined in Section 21-27-11 , to acquire or improve any waterworks system, water supply system, sewerage system, sewage disposal system, garbage disposal system, rubbish disposal system or incinerators, gas producing system, gas generating system, gas transmission system, or gas distribution system, electric generating, transmission or distribution system, railroad transportation system for passengers and freight, or motor vehicle transportation system, including any combination of any or all of those systems into one (1) system, within or without the corporate limits thereof, for the purpose of supplying the municipality and the persons and corporations, both public and private, whether within or without its corporate limits, with the services and facilities afforded by the system, provided that water, electric energy, or gas afforded by any system or systems may be supplied to such ultimate consumers thereof by sale thereof to the owners or operators of a distribution system for resale to the public. Any municipality which shall borrow money and issue revenue bonds to provide funds with which to acquire a gas transmission system, if necessary in order to reach and obtain a source of supply of gas for the municipality, may extend or construct its gas transmission line into an adjoining state, and may use and expend part of the proceeds of such issue of revenue bonds for the purpose.

(b) To assume all indebtedness for any system or systems which may be acquired under the provisions of this section as all or part of the consideration for the acquisition of such system or systems and to issue its revenue bonds in exchange for the bonds or notes evidencing the indebtedness.

(c) To acquire or improve any system which it is authorized to borrow money and issue revenue bonds under subsection (a) of this section to acquire or improve; and to make contracts in furtherance thereof or in connection therewith.

(d) To own, operate and maintain any such system or combination of any and all of said systems into one (1) system.

(e) To establish, maintain and collect rates for the facilities and services offered by any such system; provided that if there is a combination of systems into one or more systems, the municipality establishing the same shall be and is empowered to establish, maintain and collect rates for any and all of the services or for any combination thereof, and the municipality may discontinue any or all of the services upon any failure to promptly pay the charges fixed for the services. The rates so fixed for services rendered by any system or combination thereof may be charged for all services rendered thereby, regardless of whether the services may have been previously rendered without rates or charges therefor by the previously existing waterworks system, water supply system, sewerage system, sewage disposal system, garbage disposal system, rubbish disposal system or incinerators, gas producing system, gas generating system, gas transmission system, or gas distribution system, electric generating, transmission or distribution system, which shall have been merged into the combined system. Any such municipality may pledge for the payment of any bonds issued to acquire or improve any such combined system, or to refund any bonds previously issued to acquire or improve any such combined system or to acquire or improve any system merged with such combined system, the revenues to be derived from the operation of such combined system, including the charges authorized to be imposed by this section.

A municipality may authorize a municipally owned utility to make early payment of the utility's bills to its electricity suppliers which offer early payment discounts to the municipally owned utility. The municipality may immediately refund to a customer of the municipally owned utility his or her deposit for municipal utility services after the municipal utility has determined that payment for all services and any other obligations which the customer may have incurred in regard to the municipal utility has been made.

If the revenues of any previously existing system being merged into a combined system are subject to a prior lien, the revenues and the expenses of any previously existing system shall be accounted for separately to the extent necessary to satisfy the covenants relating to the prior lien for so long as the indebtedness secured by the revenues shall remain outstanding. Only surplus revenues remaining after the satisfaction of all covenants relating to the outstanding indebtedness may be pledged to the retirement of any indebtedness to be secured by the revenues of a combined system. The existence of the outstanding indebtedness shall not, in and of itself, prevent the combining of systems as herein provided, so long as the prior lien on the revenues of any previously existing system is fully satisfied from the revenues of the previously existing system.

(f) To acquire property, real or personal, which may be necessary to effectuate the powers conferred by this section. The municipality may purchase electric transmission line materials, electric distribution system substation equipment, transformer equipment, and all other appliances, apparatus, machinery, equipment and appurtenances necessary for the sale of electricity, such as utility vehicles and fencing, from the surplus inventory of the Tennessee Valley Authority or any other similar agency of the federal government and electric power associations. These purchases by the municipality shall be exempt from the public bid requirements prescribed in Sections 31-7-12 and 31-7-13 . If the power of eminent domain is exercised, it shall be exercised in the manner provided by Sections 11-27-1 through 11-27-51 .

(g) To enter into contract with the United States of America or any agency thereof, under the provisions of acts of the Congress of the United States, to aid or encourage public works and the regulations made in pursuance thereof, for the sale of bonds issued in accordance with the provisions of Sections 21-27-41 through 21-27-69 or for the acceptance of a grant to aid such municipality in acquiring or improving any such system; and the contracts may contain terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by and between the municipality and the United States of America or any agency thereof, or any purchaser of the bonds.

(h) To adopt the ordinances and resolutions and to do all things and perform all acts necessary, proper or desirable to effectuate the full intent and purpose of Sections 21-27-11 through 21-27-69 , including processing, marketing, custom processing, sale and resale of materials processed through any facility under its jurisdiction.

(i) To borrow from the Mississippi Development Bank in order to fund the advance purchase of energy for its gas producing, generating, transmission or distribution system or its electric generating, transmission or distribution system.

(j) Enter into an interlocal agreement in accordance with Section 21-27-75 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-2 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 9 / Section 19-2
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-2
Status: in_force

(1)(a) To defray the cost of establishing, operating and maintaining the system provided for in Section 21-19-1 , the governing authority of a municipality may develop a system for the billing and/or collection of any fees or charges imposed on each person furnished garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal service by the municipality or at the expense of the municipality. The governing authority of the municipality shall provide for the collection of the fees or charges.

(b) The governing authority of a municipality may enter into a contract upon mutual agreement with a public or private corporation, nonprofit corporation, planning and development district or a public agency, association, utility or utility district within the area receiving garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal services from the municipality for the purpose of developing, maintaining, operating and administering a system for the billing and/or collection of fees or charges imposed by the municipality for garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal services. The entity with whom the governing authority of a municipality contracts shall notify the governing authority of the municipality monthly of any unpaid fees or charges assessed under this section. Any entity that contracts to provide a service to customers, within the area being served by the municipality's garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal system, may provide a list of its customers to the governing authority of the municipality upon the request of the governing authority.

(2)(a) To defray the cost of establishing and operating the system provided for in Section 21-19-1 , the governing body of a municipality may levy an ad valorem tax not to exceed four (4) mills on all taxable property within the area served by the municipality's garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal system. The service area may be comprised of incorporated and/or unincorporated areas within a county; however, no property shall be subject to this levy unless that property is within an area served by a municipality's garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal system. The rate of the ad valorem tax levied under this section shall be shown as a line item on the notice of ad valorem taxes on taxable property owed by the taxpayer.

(b) In addition to or in lieu of any other method authorized to defray the cost of establishing and operating the system provided for in Section 21-19-1 , the governing body of a municipality that has established a garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal system may assess and collect fees or charges to defray the costs of such services. The governing authority may assess and collect the fees or charges from each single family residential generator of garbage and/or rubbish. The governing authority also may assess and collect such fees or charges from each industrial, commercial and multi-family residential generator of garbage and/or rubbish for any time period that the generator has not otherwise contracted for the collection of garbage and/or rubbish that is ultimately disposed of at a permitted or authorized nonhazardous solid waste management facility.

(c) Before the adoption of any resolution or ordinance to increase the ad valorem tax assessment or fees or charges authorized by this section, the governing authority of a municipality shall have published a notice advertising their intent to increase the ad valorem tax assessment or fees or charges authorized by this section. The notice shall specify the purpose of the proposed increase, the proposed percentage increase and the proposed percentage increase in total revenues for garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal services or shall contain a copy of any resolution by the governing authority stating their intent to increase the ad valorem tax assessment or fees or charges authorized by this section. The notice shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality for no less than three (3) consecutive weeks before the adoption of the order. The notice shall be in print no less than the size of eighteen (18) point and shall be surrounded by a one-fourth ( 1 / 4 ) inch black border. The notice shall not be placed in the legal section notice of the newspaper. There shall be no language in the notice inferring a mandate from the Legislature.

In addition to the requirement for publication of notice, the governing authority of a municipality shall notify each person furnished garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal service of any increase in the ad valorem tax assessment or fees or charges authorized by this section. In the case of an increase of the ad valorem tax assessment, a notice shall be conspicuously placed on or attached to the first ad valorem tax bill on which the increased assessment is effective. In the case of an increase in fees or charges, a notice shall be conspicuously placed on or attached to the first bill for fees or charges on which the increased fees or charges are assessed. There shall be no language in any notice inferring a mandate from the Legislature.

(d) The governing authority of a municipality may adopt an ordinance authorizing the granting of exemptions from the fees or charges for certain generators of garbage and/or rubbish. The ordinance shall define clearly those generators that may be exempted and shall be interpreted consistently by the governing authority when determining whether to grant or withhold requested exemptions.

(e) The governing authority may borrow money for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the system in anticipation of:

(i) The tax levy authorized under this section;

(ii) Revenues resulting from the assessment of any fees or charges for garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal; or

(iii) Any combination thereof.

(3)(a) Fees or charges for garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal shall be assessed jointly and severally against the generator of the garbage and/or rubbish and against the owner of the property furnished the service. However, any person who pays, as a part of a rental or lease agreement, an amount for garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal services shall not be held liable upon the failure of the property owner to pay such fees.

(b) Every generator assessed the fees or charges provided for and limited by this section and the owner of the property occupied by that generator shall be jointly and severally liable for the fees and/or charges so assessed. The fees or charges shall be a lien upon the real property offered garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal service.

At the discretion of the governing body of the municipality, fees or charges assessed for the service may be assessed annually. If fees or charges are assessed annually, the fees or charges for each calendar year shall be a lien upon the real property offered the service beginning on January 1 of the next immediately succeeding calendar year. The person or entity owing the fees or charges, upon signing a form provided by the governing authority, may pay the fees or charges in equal installments.

If fees or charges so assessed are assessed on a basis other than annually, the fees or charges shall become a lien on the real property offered the service on the date that the fees or charges become due and payable.

No real or personal property shall be sold to satisfy any lien imposed under this section.

The municipality shall mail a notice of the lien, including the amount of unpaid fees or charges and a description of the property subject to the lien, to the owner of the property subject to the lien.

(c) The municipal governing body shall notify the county tax collector of any unpaid fees or charges assessed under this section within ninety (90) days after such fees or charges are due. Upon receipt of a delinquency notice, the tax collector shall not issue or renew a motor vehicle road and bridge privilege license for any motor vehicle owned by a person who is delinquent in the payment of fees or charges, unless such fees or charges, in addition to any other taxes or fees assessed against the motor vehicle, are paid.

(d) Liens created under this section may be discharged as follows:

(i) By filing with the municipal tax collector a receipt or acknowledgement, signed by the municipality, that the lien has been paid or discharged; or

(ii) By depositing with the municipal tax collector money equal to the amount of the claim, which money shall be held for the benefit of the municipality.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-95 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 21 / Section 27-95
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-95
Status: in_force

Any municipality or public utility commission desiring to reproduce by microfilm, photograph, photostat or other process, the records of municipal system or systems under the authority granted in Section 21-27-93 are authorized and vested with the authority to purchase or acquire any equipment, materials and supplies necessary therefor, or to contract for the reproducing of said records in accordance with Section 31-7-1 et seq. Any such contract shall not exceed a period of twelve (12) months.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-3-13 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 1 / Section 3-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-3-13
Status: in_force

The board of aldermen shall elect from among its members a mayor pro tempore, who shall serve in the place of the mayor in cases of temporary absence or disability of the mayor.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-25-7 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 5 / Section 25-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-25-7
Status: in_force

In all municipalities of this state maintaining a paid fire department, the personnel of which department is actively and exclusively engaged in fire duty, no member of such department, exclusive of the chief officer, shall be required to remain on active duty for an entire twenty-four hours. The personnel of such fire department shall be divided into two platoons, or shifts, one to perform duty in the daytime and the other to perform duty in the nighttime, but neither platoon, or shift, shall be required to remain on active duty in any event for more than fourteen hours per day, except in cases of urgent and extreme necessity.

Each municipality coming within the provisions of this section shall immediately submit to the Mississippi state rating bureau the set-up and organization of its fire department which will be necessary in order to comply with the provisions of this section and which can be effected without employing more than one additional fireman. Such municipality shall require of said rating bureau a ruling as to whether or not such a set-up and organization of its fire department would adversely affect the present insurance rating of such municipality; if said rating bureau in answer to such request shall give a written ruling in the affirmative the municipality requesting such ruling shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-329 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 27 / Section 29-329
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-329
Status: in_force

(1) Any municipality that has established a retirement fund or disability and relief fund under the provisions of Article 1, 3 or 5 of this chapter, shall be authorized to adopt a resolution to allow those spouses who are receiving retirement benefits under the provisions of those articles, to continue to receive the spouse retirement benefits for life even if the spouse remarries. The resolution also may provide that surviving spouses of deceased members who received spouse retirement benefits that were terminated upon remarriage may again receive the spouse retirement benefits from and after making application with the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System to reinstate the benefits. Any reinstatement of spouse retirement benefits shall be prospective only from and after the first of the month following the date of application for reinstatement.

(2) The continuation or reinstatement of spouse retirement benefits authorized under this section shall not be continued or reinstated unless all of the following requirements are met:

(a) The municipal retirement fund or disability and relief fund is actuarially sound, as shown by the most recent actuarial study required by Section 21-29-27 , 21-29-119 or 21-29-221 ;

(b) The municipal retirement fund or disability and relief fund will remain actuarially sound if the spouse retirement benefits are continued or reinstated, as shown by a certified statement from the actuarial firm that prepared the most recent actuarial study;

(c) The governing authorities of the municipality adopt a resolution requesting the continuation or reinstatement of the spouse retirement benefits as authorized in this section and transmit the resolution to the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System; and

(d) If applicable, the surviving spouse makes an application to the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System to reinstate the spouse retirement benefits.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-175 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 27 / Section 27-175
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-175
Status: in_force

Any public agency having taxing powers, other than a county or a municipality as herein defined, is authorized to levy a special ad valorem tax not to exceed four (4) mills upon all taxable property within its geographical limits to pay all or a portion of the payments to be made by that public agency under a contract between the public agency and a municipality and if the contract as authorized by the governing body of the public agency so provides, then the contract shall constitute an obligation against the taxing power of the public agency to the extent therein provided. The special ad valorem tax millage authorized by Sections 21-27-161 through 21-27-191 shall not be reimbursable by the state under the provisions otherwise made for reimbursements under the homestead exemption laws.

The proceeds derived from two (2) mills of the levy authorized herein shall be included in the ten percent (10%) increase limitation under Section 27-39-321 , and the proceeds derived from any additional millage levied hereunder in excess of two (2) mills shall be excluded from such limitation for the first year of such additional levy and shall be included within such limitation in any year thereafter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-35-33 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 35 / Section 35-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-35-33
Status: in_force

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as provided by law, which shall be in addition to any other penalty now or hereafter imposed by law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-19 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 19 / Section 27-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-19
Status: in_force

The commission shall devote all monies, derived from any source other than the issuance of bonds for purposes authorized by the laws of the State of Mississippi, to or for the payment of all operating expenses, including such items as are normally required of utilities for sales development; to or for the payment of all bonds and interest on outstanding revenue bonds, if any, of such systems; to or for the acquisition and improvement of the system contingencies; to or for the payment of all other obligations incurred in the operation and maintenance of the systems and the furnishing of service; to or for the creation and maintenance of a cash working fund or a surplus fund to be used for replacement, extension of systems, and emergencies. The balance of the revenues of said systems, if any, may be used for any other lawful municipal purpose and may be paid to the governing authorities of the municipality for distribution to the various municipal funds, or may be disbursed for said purpose by the said commission at the direction and request of the governing authorities of such municipality.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-23-19 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 1 / Section 23-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-23-19
Status: in_force

In enforcing the penalty prescribed for violation of all laws and ordinances in regard to parking of vehicles, it shall not be necessary to name any person in a traffic ticket issued for such violation. A traffic ticket attached to the unlawfully parked vehicle shall be sufficient to require the appearance of the operator unlawfully parking such vehicle in the municipal court at the time stated in such traffic ticket. In cases where the name of the operator of an unlawfully parked vehicle is unknown, the owner of record of the unlawfully parked vehicle shall, as a matter of law, be presumed to be the operator of such vehicle and may be charged with such violation. No arrest shall be made for failure of the operator or owner to appear in response to said traffic ticket, except on affidavit and issuance of an arrest warrant. Except in cases where an arrest warrant is issued, it shall not be necessary to enter such cases on the municipal court docket nor to enter final judgment thereon in the minute book of said court. Except as otherwise provided in Section 27-19-56, Mississippi Code of 1972 , in enforcing the penalty prescribed for violation of all laws and ordinances in regard to parking of vehicles, no person's driver's license shall be suspended or revoked.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-43-109 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 35 / Section 43-109
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-43-109
Status: in_force

All areas included in a business improvement district must be zoned for some use other than residential. Residential uses may be included if the property is zoned for commercial or industrial use and the property is not owner-occupied as a homestead. Properties comprising a business improvement district must be contiguous to the other properties to be benefited in the district with the exception of public streets, alleys, parks and other public rights-of-way and tax exempt properties within the district boundaries.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-151 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 8 / Section 29-151
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-151
Status: in_force

This article shall apply to municipalities whether under private charter or existing and operating under the general statutes of the State of Mississippi.

This article is supplementary to any laws heretofore passed and the provisions of this article are not applicable to any municipality operating under Article 5 of this chapter. It is the intention of the legislature to make it mandatory on municipalities to enforce the provisions of this article, unless a majority of those voting in an election thereon vote otherwise.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-25-51 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 19 / Section 25-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-25-51
Status: in_force

(1) It is the purpose of Sections 21-25-51 through 21-25-59 to permit the governing authorities of any municipality and a rural water association operating within the corporate limits of the municipality to make the most efficient use of their powers in upgrading their respective water systems for the purpose of improving local fire protection by enabling them to cooperate and to contract with each other on a basis of mutual advantage and thereby provide services and facilities in a manner that will accord best with geographic, economic, population and other factors influencing the needs and development of the fire protection of local communities.

(2) The governing authorities of any municipality may enter into an interlocal agreement with any rural water association operating within the corporate limits of the municipality for the purpose of constructing, new construction or upgrading the water system of the municipality or the water association, or both, for the purpose of improving the fire protection of the municipality.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-71 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 5 / Section 31-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-31-71
Status: in_force

No person in the classified civil service who shall have been permanently appointed or inducted into civil service under the provisions of Sections 21-31-51 through 21-31-75 shall be removed, suspended, demoted or discharged, or any combination thereof, except for cause, and only upon the written accusation of the appointing power or any citizen or taxpayer, a written statement of which accusation, in general terms, shall be served upon the accused, and a duplicate filed with the commission. The mayor may suspend a member pending the confirmation of the suspension by the regular appointing power, which shall be within three (3) days.

In the absence of extraordinary circumstances or situations, before any such employee may be removed or discharged, he shall be given written notice of the intended termination, which notice shall state the reasons for termination and inform the employee that he has the right to respond in writing to the reasons given for termination within a reasonable time and respond orally before the official charged with the responsibility of making the termination decision. Such official may, in his discretion, provide for a pretermination hearing and examination of witnesses, and if a hearing is to be held, the notice to the employee shall also set the time and place of such hearing. A duplicate of such notice shall be filed with the commission. After the employee has responded or has failed to respond within a reasonable time, the official charged with the responsibility of making the termination decision shall determine the appropriate disciplinary action, and shall notify the employee of his decision in writing at the earliest practicable date.

Where there are extraordinary circumstances or situations which require the immediate discharge or removal of an employee, such employee may be terminated without a pretermination hearing as required by this section, but such employee shall be given written notice of the specific reasons for termination within twenty-four (24) hours after the termination, and shall be given an opportunity for a hearing similar to the pretermination hearing provided in this section within twenty (20) days after the date of termination. For the purposes of this section, extraordinary situations or circumstances include, but are not limited to, circumstances where retention of the employee would result in damage to municipal property, would be detrimental to the interest of municipal government or would result in injury to the employee, to a fellow employee or to the general public.

Any person so removed, suspended, demoted, discharged or combination thereof may, within ten (10) days from the time of such disciplinary action, file with the commission a written demand for an investigation, whereupon the commission shall conduct such investigation. The investigation shall be confined to the determination of the question of whether such disciplinary action was or was not made for political or religious reasons and was or was not made in good faith for cause. After such investigation the commission may, if in its estimation the evidence is conclusive, affirm the disciplinary action, or if it shall find that the disciplinary action was made for political or religious reasons, or was not made in good faith for cause, shall order the immediate reinstatement or reemployment of such person in the office, place, position or employment from which such person was removed, suspended, demoted, discharged or combination thereof, which reinstatement shall, if the commission so provides in its discretion, be retroactive, and entitle such person to pay or compensation from the time of such disciplinary action. The commission upon such investigation may, in lieu of affirming the disciplinary action, modify the order of removal, suspension, demotion, discharge or combination thereof by directing a suspension, without pay, for a given period and subsequent restoration of duty, or by directing a demotion in classification, grade or pay, or by any combination thereof. The findings of the commission shall be certified in writing to the appointing power, and shall be forthwith enforced by such officer.

All investigations made by the commission pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be by public hearing, after reasonable written notice to the accused of the time and place of such hearing, at which hearing the accused shall be afforded an opportunity of appearing in person and by counsel, and presenting his defense. The findings of the commission shall be conclusive and binding unless either the accused or the municipality shall, within thirty (30) days from the date of the entry of such judgment or order on the minutes of the commission and notification to the accused and the municipality, appeal to the circuit court of the county within which the municipality is located. Any appeal of the judgment or order of the commission shall not act as a supersedeas of such judgment or order, but the judgment or order shall remain in effect pending a final determination of the matter on appeal. Such appeal shall be taken by serving the commission and the appellee, within thirty (30) days after the entry of such judgment or order, a written notice of appeal, stating the grounds thereof, and demanding that a certified transcript of the record and of all papers on file in the office of the commission affecting or relating to such judgment or order, be filed by the commission with such court. The commission shall, within thirty (30) days after the filing of such notice, make, certify and file such transcript with such court. The said circuit court shall thereupon proceed to hear and determine such appeal. However, such hearing shall be confined to the determination of whether the judgment or order of removal, discharge, demotion, suspension or combination thereof made by the commission, was or was not made in good faith for cause, and no appeal to such court shall be taken except upon such ground or grounds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-9-15 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-9-15
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The legislative power of any city in which the council-manager plan of government is in effect under this chapter shall be vested in a council consisting of a mayor and five (5) councilmen.

(b) Any city with a larger or smaller number of councilmen, prior to September 30, 1962, may retain this larger or smaller number of councilmen or may adopt the council size of five (5) as prescribed herein. This option shall be exercised through the enactment of an appropriate ordinance by the municipal governing body prior to the election to adopt the council-manager plan of government. In the event the council fails to exercise this option, the council shall consist of five (5) councilmen.

(c) At the next regular municipal election which takes place after the adoption of the council-manager form of government, the mayor shall be elected at large by the voters of the entire city. Also, the councilmen shall be elected at large by the voters of the entire city to represent a city-wide district, or each of four (4) councilmen may be elected from a ward to represent such ward and one (1) councilman may be elected to represent a city-wide district. This option shall be exercised by an appropriate ordinance enacted by the city governing body prior to the election to adopt the council-manager plan of government. In the event the council fails to exercise this option, the councilmen shall be elected at large to represent the city-wide district. In its discretion at any time after adoption and implementation of the council-manager plan of government the council may provide for the election of councilmen by wards as provided herein, which shall become effective at the next regularly scheduled election for city councilmen.

(d) Councilmen elected to represent wards must be residents of their wards; and in cities having more or fewer than five (5) councilmen, prior to September 30, 1962, the city governing body shall determine the number of councilmen to represent the wards and the number of councilmen to represent the city-wide district.

(e) The council of any municipality having a population exceeding forty-five thousand (45,000) inhabitants according to the 1970 decennial census which is situated in a Class 1 county bordering on the State of Alabama and which is governed by a council-manager plan of government on January 1, 1977, may, in its discretion, adopt an ordinance to require the election of four (4) of the five (5) council members from wards and not from the city at large. The four (4) council members shall be elected one (1) each from the wards in which they reside in the municipality, and shall be elected only by the registered voters residing within the ward in which the council member resides. The mayor and fifth council member may continue to be elected from the city at large. Any council member who shall remove his residence from the ward from which he was elected shall, by operation of law, vacate his seat on the council.

After publication of the population of the municipality according to the 1980 decennial census, the governing authorities of the municipality shall designate the geographical boundaries of new wards as provided in this subparagraph. Each ward shall contain as nearly as possible the population factor obtained by dividing by four (4) the city's population as shown by the 1980 and each most recent decennial census thereafter. It shall be the mandatory duty of the council to redistrict the city by ordinance, which ordinance may not be vetoed by the mayor, within six (6) months after the official publication by the United States of the population of the city as enumerated in each decennial census, and within six (6) months after the effective date of any expansion of municipal boundaries; provided, however, if the publication of the most recent decennial census or effective date of an expansion of the municipal boundaries occurs six (6) months or more prior to the first primary of a general municipal election, then the council shall redistrict the city by ordinance within at least sixty (60) days of such first primary. If the publication of the most recent decennial census occurs less than six (6) months prior to the first primary of a general municipal election, the election shall be held with regard to currently defined wards; and reapportioned wards based on the census shall not serve as the basis for representation until the next regularly scheduled election in which council members shall be elected. If annexation of additional territory into the municipal corporate limits of the city shall occur less than six (6) months prior to the first primary of a general municipal election, the city council shall, by ordinance adopted within three (3) days of the effective date of such annexation, assign such annexed territory to an adjacent ward or wards so as to maintain as nearly as possible substantial equality of population between wards. Any subsequent redistricting of the city by ordinance as required by this section shall not serve as the basis for representation until the next regularly scheduled election for city councilmen.

(2) However, in any municipality situated in a Class 1 county bordering on the Mississippi Sound and the State of Alabama, traversed by U.S. Highway 90, the legislative power of such municipality in which the council-manager plan of government is in effect shall be vested in a council consisting of a mayor and six (6) councilmen. In the next regular municipal election in such municipality, the mayor shall be elected at large by the voters of the entire municipality. Also, the councilmen shall be elected at large by the voters of the entire municipality to represent a municipality-wide district, or each of five (5) councilmen may be elected from one (1) of five (5) wards to represent said ward and one (1) councilman shall be elected to represent a municipality-wide district. This option as to wards shall be exercised by an appropriate ordinance enacted by the municipal governing body. In the event the council fails to exercise this option, the councilmen shall be elected at large to represent the municipality-wide district. Councilmen elected to represent wards must be residents of their wards.

The method of electing the mayor and councilmen shall be the same as otherwise provided by law except as provided in this chapter. The mayor and councilmen elected hereunder shall hold office for a term of four (4) years and until their successors are elected and qualified. No person shall be eligible to the office of mayor or councilman unless he is a qualified elector of such city.

(3)(a) In the event a city with a population of one hundred thousand (100,000) or more inhabitants according to the last decennial census adopts the council-manager form of government, the legislative power of said city shall be vested in a council consisting of a mayor and eight (8) councilmen.

(b) At the next regular municipal election which takes place after the adoption of the council-manager form of government, the mayor shall be elected at large by the voters of the entire municipality. The municipality shall be divided into five (5) wards with one (1) councilman to be elected from each ward by the voters of that ward, and three (3) councilmen to be elected from the municipality at large. Councilmen elected to represent wards must be residents of their wards at the time of qualification for election, and any councilman who removes his residence from the city or from the ward from which he was elected shall vacate his office.

(c) It shall be the duty of the municipal governing body existing at the time of the adoption of the council-manager form of government to designate the geographical boundaries of the five (5) wards within sixty (60) days after the election in which the council-manager form is selected. In designating the geographical boundaries of the five (5) wards, each ward shall contain as nearly as possible the population factor obtained by dividing by five (5) the city's population as shown by the most recent decennial census. It shall be the mandatory duty of the council to redistrict the city by ordinance, which ordinance may not be vetoed by the mayor, within six (6) months after the official publication by the United States of the population of the city as enumerated in each decennial census, and within six (6) months after the effective date of any expansion of municipal boundaries; however, if the publication of the most recent decennial census or effective date of an expansion of the municipal boundaries occurs six (6) months or more prior to the first primary of a general municipal election, then the council shall redistrict the city by ordinance within at least sixty (60) days of such first primary. If the publication of the most recent decennial census occurs less than six (6) months prior to the first primary of a general municipal election, the election shall be held with regard to currently defined wards; and reapportioned wards based on the census shall not serve as the basis for representation until the next regularly scheduled election in which city councilmen shall be elected. If annexation of additional territory into the municipal corporate limits of the city shall occur less than six (6) months prior to the first primary of a general municipal election, the city council shall, by ordinance adopted within three (3) days of the effective date of such annexation, assign such annexed territory to an adjacent ward or wards so as to maintain as nearly as possible substantial equality of population between wards; any subsequent redistricting of the city by ordinance as required by this section shall not serve as the basis for representation until the next regularly scheduled election for city councilmen.

(4) The method of electing the mayor and councilmen shall be the same as otherwise provided by law, except as provided in this chapter. The mayor and councilmen elected hereunder shall hold office for a term of four (4) years and until their successors are elected and qualified. No person shall be eligible to the office of mayor or councilman unless he is a qualified elector of such city.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-43-118 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 35 / Section 43-118
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-43-118
Status: in_force

(1) Once the ten-year period has commenced, the district shall hold an annual meeting for the purpose of reporting its plan activities to the district property owners.

(2) The district plan improvements may be amended during any of the annual meetings. Notice of intent to amend the plan shall be provided to the property owners as an addendum to a notice of the annual meeting which shall be provided not less than twenty (20) days prior to the meeting.

(3) Approval of the plan will be validated by a vote of fifty percent (50%) of the annual meeting participating property owners. Ballots shall be provided by the district prior to the commencement of the meeting.

(4) All district property owners shall be notified of the voting results of a proposed amended plan.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-43 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 5 / Section 29-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-43
Status: in_force

(1) Once a year during the first five (5) years following retirement of a member on either duty or non-duty disability retirement allowance, and once in every three-year period thereafter, the board may require any disability beneficiary who has not completed twenty (20) years' service under the terms and provisions of this article to undergo a medical examination at the place of residence of the beneficiary or other place mutually agreed upon, to be made by a physician or physicians designated by the board. Should any disability beneficiary who has not completed twenty (20) years' service under the terms and provisions of this article refuse to submit to at least one (1) medical examination in any such year by a physician or physicians designated by the board, his allowance shall be discontinued until his withdrawal of such refusal, and should his refusal continue for one (1) year, all his rights in and to any and all retirement allowances under the retirement system shall be revoked by the board.

(2) Should the examining physician or physicians report and certify to the board that a disability retirant has recovered and is able to engage in a gainful occupation, and should the board concur in such report, then the disability retirement allowance shall cease. In the case of a duty disability retirant only, upon again becoming an employee of the employer, he shall again become a member of the retirement system and the time during which he was a disability retirant shall be counted as time in the service of the employer for the purpose of service retirement.

(3) Any disability retirant, who has not completed twenty (20) years' service under this article prior to retirement, who secures gainful employment over a period of three (3) consecutive months shall not thereafter receive any disability retirement allowance and it shall be the duty of the board to revoke its order directing the payment of a retirement allowance to such person.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-47-5 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 41 / Section 47-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-47-5
Status: in_force

The district shall be authorized to convey the assets of the district to any suitable public utility qualified to operate same, authorized for such service by the State of Mississippi, and regulated by the regulatory agencies of the State of Mississippi. The sale price shall be such as shall be agreed upon between the district and the purchasing utility. The purchase price shall be used as follows:

(a) First, the retirement of all bonds of the district.

(b) The payment of all debts or obligations of the district.

(c) The balance shall be deposited in banks or other financial institutions authorized to receive deposits of such funds by the laws of the State of Mississippi. Such deposits shall be made in accordance with, and shall be secured as required by, the laws of the State of Mississippi. Preference may be given to such institutions as may be located within the counties of Humphreys or Sunflower. Such deposit or deposits, and interest thereon, may be used as set out in Section 21-47-3 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-51 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 9 / Section 19-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-19-51
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of municipalities shall have the power and authority, in their discretion, to contribute, appropriate or donate to fair associations, domiciled in their respective county, a sum of money not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) per annum for the purpose of advertising, displaying, exhibiting or promoting the agricultural or industrial resources of such municipality or its respective county. The expenditure of such money, when contributed, appropriated or donated, shall be under the control of the municipality, and such governing authorities are hereby authorized and empowered to appoint one or as many as three individuals, in their discretion, to represent the municipal authorities in the proper expenditure of such money for said purpose in conjunction with the fair association. Before contributing, appropriating or donating any money to any fair association, such governing authorities shall publish notice of their intention to contribute, appropriate or donate money to said fair association, giving the amount of, and the date of making said contribution, appropriation or donation, in some newspaper published in the municipality, or having a general circulation therein if none be there published, for three weeks ending not less than ten days prior to the making of any contribution, appropriation or donation. If, before the making of said contribution, appropriation or donation, twenty per centum of the adult taxpayers of the municipality shall petition against such contribution, appropriation or donation, then the said contribution, appropriation or donation shall not be made, unless authorized by a majority of the electors voting in an election to be ordered for that purpose. All of the expenses of publishing the notice herein provided for and of holding any election hereunder shall be paid out of the municipal treasury.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-239 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 8 / Section 29-239
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-239
Status: in_force

The Public Employees' Retirement System shall keep a record of service of the members of the fire department and police department, which record shall show the history of employment of each member of said fire department and police department. Said record shall be written up fully at the time such city comes within the terms of this article, and it shall thereafter be kept entered up fully and correctly. All records currently maintained by the municipality's affected membership shall be forwarded to the Public Employees' Retirement System not later than July 1, 1987. Any additional changes shall be forwarded to the Public Employees' Retirement System as made.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-205 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 21 / Section 29-205
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-205
Status: in_force

Whenever the said fund shall be created, and a system of disability and relief for firemen and/or policemen inaugurated in any municipality, at any time upon the petition of not less than twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of said municipality addressed to the said officers composing the governing board of said municipality, requesting an election to determine whether said municipality shall continue to operate under the provisions of this article, the said governing board of said municipality shall order an election to determine said question. Notice of the election shall be given and conduct of the election shall be had as is provided in Section 21-29-203 . If at said election a majority of the qualified electors of said municipality shall vote against the continuance of operation of said municipality under the provisions of this article, the said governing board of said municipality shall at the next regular meeting thereof held after said election order the abolition and discontinuance of said system. The said fund and the said system, however, shall continue as to members of the paid fire department and/or police department of said municipality already in service and entitled to participation in said fund. The said system shall be worked out in said municipality to its end as to said members of the paid fire department and/or police department, but no new members entering the service of the fire and/or police department of said municipality shall be taken into or embraced within said system. If at said election a majority of the qualified electors of said municipality shall not vote for a discontinuance of said system in said municipality, no other election in said regard shall be held therein within a period of one (1) year thereafter. No new members may be joined by the fund after July 1, 1987, and all new employees of the police department and/or fire department of any municipality having such funds shall become members of the Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi after July 1, 1987.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-9-41 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 5 / Section 9-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-9-41
Status: in_force

Neither the mayor nor councilmen shall be required to have any office in the city hall, nor shall they be required to have any office hours.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-8-41 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 7 / Section 8-41
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-8-41
Status: in_force

All of the provisions of law with reference to the government of municipalities not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to any municipality operating under the mayor-council form of government as herein provided.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-45.nr2 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 9 / Section 29-45.nr2
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-29-45.nr2
Status: in_force

Upon proper application to the general retirement board, the benefits to dependents of deceased members and retirants shall be paid as follows:

(a) If any member dies for causes other than the performance of duty in the service of the municipality before completing five (5) years' service, there shall be paid to his or her designated beneficiary or his or her legal representative, if no beneficiary has been designated, from the employees' savings fund the sum equal to the amount accumulated in his or her individual account.

(b) If any member dies who has not had less than five (5) and not more than twenty (20) years' service with the municipality, there shall be paid to the spouse, from the retirement reserve fund, for each year's active service, not to exceed a period of twenty (20) years, one-fortieth ( 1 / 40 ) of the average monthly salary or compensation received by the member in the four-year or two-year period, as the case may be, next preceding the death, for the use of the spouse and the child or children of the deceased member under the age of eighteen (18) years, so long as the spouse lives. If, after the death of the spouse, there remains a child or children of the deceased member under the age of eighteen (18) years, the payments shall continue to be made to a parent or lawful custodian of the child or children without the necessity of appointment as guardian for the benefit of the child or children, so long as the child or children are under the age of eighteen (18) years. After the death of the spouse, all payments to the spouse shall cease, and after the death or attainment of eighteen (18) years of any child or children of the deceased member, all payments to the child or children over eighteen (18) years of age shall cease. If the deceased member is not survived by a spouse, child or children under the age of eighteen (18) years, but is survived by a father or a mother dependent upon him or her, the payments shall continue to be made to the dependent father or mother, or both, so long as each lives. The word “ dependent ,” as used in this section, shall mean “wholly dependent,” as determined by the retirement board.

(c) If any member dies after having completed twenty (20) years' service as required by Section 21-29-31 , or if any retirant dies, there shall be paid from the retirement reserve fund to the spouse or the dependents designated in paragraph (b) of this section, the amount of benefits or retirement pay equal to the sum being paid to the deceased member or retirant, or which would have been paid to the deceased member or retirant if he or she had applied for benefits under this section, on the date of his or her death.

(d) If any member dies before becoming eligible to receive benefits under this article as a result of the performance of duty to the municipality, there shall be paid to the spouse or dependents designated in paragraph (b) of this section from the retirement reserve fund, an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the monthly salary of the deceased member on the date of his or her death. This amount shall be paid to the same beneficiaries and for the same period of time as those beneficiaries and periods of time set forth in paragraph (b) of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-191 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 23 / Section 27-191
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-27-191
Status: in_force

Sections 21-27-161 through 21-27-191 are cumulative of other statutes now or hereafter enacted relating to the issuance of bonds; the collection, transportation, treatment or disposal of wastes; and the design, construction, acquisition or approval of facilities for such purposes, and the municipality may exercise all presently held powers in the furtherance of said sections.
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-25-11 — MS Code / Title 21 / Chapter 15 / Section 25-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 21-25-11
Status: in_force

The governing authorities of any municipality having a population in excess of 140,000 people by virtue of the 1960 census are hereby authorized to purchase insurance coverage to protect firemen working under the direction of the municipal authorities, against any suit or claims growing out of any action of such firemen guilty of false arrest, false imprisonment, false or improper service of process, malicious prosecution or any other claim resulting from such officers' performance of official duties.

Such municipal authorities shall have the right to pay out of the general fund of such municipality any premiums which may become due on the aforesaid insurance policies.