Mississippi Code Title 17. Local Government; Provisions Common to Counties and Municipalities § 17-5-5

Counties of this state, or the municipalities of such counties, are authorized and empowered (1) to own, operate, and maintain any one or any combination of the systems or public works described in Section 17-5-3; (2) to acquire property, real or personal, by contract, gift, grant, purchase, or the exercise of the power of eminent domain in connection with the acquisition, leasing, construction, improvement, extension, ownership, operation, maintenance, and financing of any one or any combination of such systems or public works; (3) to enter into contracts respecting the acquisition, leasing, construction, improvement, extension, ownership, operation, maintenance and financing of any one or any combination of such systems or public works; and (4) to establish, maintain, and collect rates, fees, and charges for the services, facilities, and commodities afforded by any one or any combination of such systems or public works. Such rates, fees, and charges shall be sufficient at all times to provide revenues (a) to pay the reasonable expenses of the operation and maintenance thereof; (b) for the establishment and maintenance of a bond retirement and interest payment fund sufficient to provide for the payment of the principal of and interest on any bonds or other obligations payable therefrom as the same become due and payable, including reasonable reserves for the payment of such principal and interest; and (c) for the establishment and maintenance of a reasonable reserve for future additions, extensions, and improvements to such systems or any combination thereof, as the case may be.