Ocean Springs brags on ambiguous infrastructure projects, but charges hundreds of dollars to answer basic questions about it.
OCEAN SPRINGS, MS (GC Wire) — The City of Ocean Springs published a polished social media graphic touting approximately $23 million in water, sewer, and drainage investments across the city.
To the average resident scrolling Facebook, the flier looked less like a public works update and more like a campaign brochure. It featured vague wording, impressive dollar figures, and the clear message that City Hall was aggressively tackling Ocean Springs’ aging infrastructure.
The graphic was posted to the City’s official Facebook page — the only municipal Facebook page on the Mississippi Gulf Coast that does not allow residents to ask questions or leave comments beneath its posts.
One detail was notably absent.
The graphic never said when the $23 million was spent.
Residents were left to guess whether the figure reflected projects completed during Mayor Bobby Cox’s first year in office, spending from previous administrations, or a compilation stretching back years before Cox ever took office.
When GC Wire asked, we were told that information comes with a price tag. A hefty one.
What the Records Revealed
In response to a public records request, the City provided the working papers used to create the graphic.
Those records show the $23 million figure is not tied to a single budget year, project, administration, or funding source.
Instead, the total appears to be a compilation of numerous infrastructure projects involving ARPA funds, state bonds, KCDBG grants, Tidelands funding, utility work, drainage improvements, sewer rehabilitation projects, and water system upgrades spread throughout the city.
Some projects are listed as completed.
Others remain under construction.
Some future projects are also discussed in the supporting materials.
What the records do not reveal is perhaps the most important detail:
How far back does the $23 million actually go?
Five years?
Ten years?
Twenty years?
Since the city’s founding in 1699?
Residents are apparently expected to pay to find out.
The Cost of an Explanation
The City’s May 1 post stated that infrastructure studies had been commissioned “over the years” and that “approximately $23 million has been invested” in utility and drainage improvements “to date.”
What the post did not say was how many years are included in that calculation.
The phrase “to date” could mean projects completed during the current administration, projects completed under previous administrations, or a compilation spanning decades of work by multiple city boards, mayors, engineers, contractors, and funding sources.
GC Wire asked for the City to explain their public statement and graphic.
The request sought records showing:
- what timeframe was used for the calculation
- how the figure was developed
- who created the graphic
- who reviewed and approved it
The City initially responded by providing the working papers, without dates or details.
When asked for anything that would explain their public claims, however, City officials issued a cost estimate.
Price: $201.
According to the City’s response, obtaining records related to the preparation and approval of the public statement will require a deposit covering ten hours of search, review, and reproduction time.
The Public Relations Message Was Free
The City spent taxpayer resources creating the graphic.
The City spent taxpayer resources publishing the graphic.
The City distributed the graphic to the public free of charge.
But residents seeking records explaining exactly what the graphic means must pay.
The public relations message was free.
The explanation costs $201.
The graphic:
