The Center for Government and Community Development (GCD) is a unit within the Mississippi
State University Extension Service. For over 
30
years the GCD has been a leader in the development and implementation
of technical assistance and educational programs for local government
officials.
Through these technical assistance and educational programs, the GCD assists local government officials, local units of government, and associations of local government in their efforts to improve governance at the grassroots and delivery of services to the citizens of Mississippi.
The GCD does not take an advocacy role in the business, legislative, or political affairs of the local governments or local government associations with which it works.
Frequently Asked Questions
While the specifics of the questions differ, all questions ultimately can be reduced to these two:
Question: How can I find current information about the organization and operation of municipal or county government in Mississippi? My local library has nothing published since the 1960s.
Answer: The GCD publishes the most current information about the organization and operation of county and municipal government in its County Government in Mississippian its Municipal Government in Mississippi: A Handbook for City Officials. These publications are issued in traditional book form which may be ordered from the GCD and often in an electronic format.
Question: Who should be contacted to request technical assistance for a county or city?
Answer: All requests for technical assistance should be directed to P. C. McLaurin, Jr.
Publications
Some of the publications below may require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. The software is available and may be downloaded free of charge from Adobe.
- County Government in Mississippi, 2004, Mississippi State, MS: Center for Governmental Technology, 2004. This publication, edited by P.C. McLaurin, Jr. and Joseph N. Fratesi, provides county officials, students, and interested citizens with the most up-to-date and comprehensive information about Mississippi county government that is available today. This extensive volume is available in traditional book form and can be viewed or downloaded chapter-by-chapter.
- Municipal Government in Mississippi: A Handbook for City Officials, Mississippi State, MS: Center for Government & Community Development, 2001. This publication, edited by P.C. McLaurin, Jr. and Michael T. Allen, provides city officials, students, and interested citizens with the most up-to-date and comprehensive information about Mississippi municipal government that is available today. This extensive volume is available in traditional book form and can be viewed or downloaded chapter-by-chapter.
- The Red Book: The Manual of the Mississippi Education and Certification Program, 2004. Produced with the Mississippi State Tax Commission and the Mississippi Assessors and Collectors Association.
- A Handbook for County Board Attorneys in Mississippi, Mississippi State, MS: Center for Government & Community Development, 2004. This publication was authored by Benjamin E. Griffith with an appendix by Samuel W. (Sam) Keyes, Jr.
- County Government Legal Digest (2003: with Office of the State Auditor.