JACKSON, Miss. — More than half of the funds allocated through the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund were spent by the Mississippi Legislature without input from the fund’s advisory board or the Mississippi Development Authority, according to a new audit released Wednesday.
State Auditor Shad White said 62% of the GCRF projects lacked recommendations from the advisory board or the MDA. White emphasized the importance of funding projects with clear performance metrics and community backing, especially since the funds come from BP settlement money related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
The GCRF was established to aid Mississippi’s coastal recovery after the spill, which released more than 205 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The MDA, in collaboration with the GCRF Advisory Board, oversees the distribution of these funds. The board provides recommendations based on community input, project performance, timelines, and matching funds.
White noted that while the MDA can recommend projects, the legislature has the legal authority to ignore those suggestions and allocate funds as it sees fit. He expressed concern that projects might be funded based on political preferences rather than their merit or impact.
Mississippi has been receiving BP settlement funds for the GCRF since 2018. Over $500 million is slated to be spent on projects aimed at boosting the coast’s economy through 2033. The full list of funded projects is included in the audit report, which is available on the Mississippi Auditor’s website under the “Reports” section.
