Memphis Commercial Appeal: Mississippi Approves $50 million Civil RIghts Museum Legislation

Mississippi Senate approves Civil Rights Museum bill

Governor, lawmakers agree that half of funding will be privately funded

By Phil West

Originally published 12:36 p.m., February 23, 2011
Updated 10:34 p.m., February 23, 2011

JACKSON -- Gov. Haley Barbour said Wednesday he prefers a public-private partnership to raise money for the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History in downtown Jackson.

Earlier in the day, state senators approved the museums but said half of the money would have to come from private sources.

That differs sharply from legislation that House members passed last week, which would have the two museums funded completely by state-backed bonds and joined by a common parking garage in downtown Jackson.

"I hope we'll be able to raise a fair amount of money from private sources. I believe we can," Barbour said after a news conference to announce new state Supreme Court justice, Chief Court of Appeals Judge Leslie D. King.

"But we need to go on and authorize sufficient funds to get a majority of the construction done, because in addition to the construction we're going to have to pay the cost of all the exhibits."

Barbour predicted the true cost of the two museums, with the attached three-tier parking garage, likely would be greater than the $30 million Senate projection and the $55 million the House approved last week.

The Senate bill also removed the location for the museums, leaving that to be worked out, most likely, when a conference committee convenes to settle differences in the two bills.

Senators approved the bill on a 36-10 vote.

The House legislation, approved Feb. 16 on a 104-16 vote, would have the museums located next to the State Department of Archives and History in downtown Jackson along with the $55 million in bonds to finance the projects.

The Museum of Mississippi History would be located on state-owned property under the Senate legislation, but the Senate bill left the location of the Civil Rights Museum undetermined.

Some senators said they were concerned about borrowing $30 million for the projects.

Sen. Merle Flowers, R-Olive Branch, noted that the state would have to pay $2 million a year just to pay off the bonds.

"I don't know anybody in this chamber who isn't in favor of both these projects," Flowers said.

"At a critical time in our history, while we're laying off employees and cutting some budgets 20 percent, now we're creating a debt of $2 million a year."

Supporters estimated it would cost another $2 million a year to operate the museums, but some of that cost would be defrayed by revenue from admission charges and gift shop sales.

"This bill seemed like an innocuous $30 million bond bill, but when you peel back the onion layers, it's going to approach $100 million before it's said and done," Flowers said.