Stone County by the numbers

Spent $25.4 million — $21.9 million to run schools, about $13,562 per student, plus $3.1 million on buildings and equipment. Money in: $3.5 million local (mostly property tax), $14.3 million state, $6.3 million federal. Long-term debt: $1.8 million.

Provision of Government Services · Completed — “Construction of the new Stone County Jail. All funds have been exhausted on this project.”

A road department seals, cleans, and repairs bridges on a schedule, before damage grows, instead of waiting to replace them.

What studies found: The Federal Highway Administration says preservation treatments often cost much less than major repair or replacement, and timely work can extend a bridge's life at a lower lifetime cost. The agency gives no dollar figures. It notes more than 30% of U.S. bridges are past their 50-year design life.

Who can do it: County road department with the state DOT; federal-aid funds can pay for systematic preventive maintenance on eligible public-road bridges · Done in: The article does not name specific places.

Limits: The case is mostly reasoning from agency guidance, not a measured study. Treatments must match the bridge and timing. Waiting makes later costs higher. Agencies should track spending to confirm savings. Evidence for this topic is thin.

Sources: FHWA Focus: bridge preservation and preventive maintenance

An agency groups several similar bridge jobs, often 7 to 10 bridges, into one design and construction contract.

What studies found: Pennsylvania's DOT reported savings of up to 50% on design and up to 15% on construction compared with one-bridge projects. Indiana's DOT reports bundling frees up to $50 million a year for other projects.

Who can do it: State DOT working with counties; county engineers · Done in: Pennsylvania (PennDOT local bridge program); Indiana (INDOT).

Limits: These are best-case 'up to' numbers from the agencies' own reports in an FHWA newsletter, not an outside study. Savings depend on bundle size and how alike the bridges are. Evidence for this topic is thin.

Sources: FHWA Innovator: project bundling

Courts send text, phone, or mail reminders about court dates and redesign summons forms so the date and place are easy to see. This cuts missed dates that lead to warrants and jail bookings.

What studies found: Two New York City field experiments found that a redesigned summons and text reminders cut missed court dates by 13 to 21%. Over three years this avoided about 30,000 arrest warrants. A national review of studies found court notifications gave small but real drops in missed court dates.

Who can do it: Courts, county clerk, prosecutors, sheriff · Done in: New York City; the studies in the national review came from Multnomah County, Oregon, and Nebraska.

Limits: The CrimeSolutions effect for notifications is small (effect size -0.07 across 4 studies), and that page is no longer updated. The New York studies were for low-level summonses, not all charges. Reminders do not change arrest rates.

Rating: CrimeSolutions (U.S. Department of Justice), practice: pretrial interventions. Sources: Fishbane, Ouss and Shah, Science 2020 (New York City field experiments) · CrimeSolutions: pretrial interventions for ensuring court appearance

People who are released before trial are monitored and given services, such as check-ins, drug testing, or treatment, instead of staying in jail or paying money bail.

What studies found: A national review of studies found pretrial supervision gave a small but real drop in missed court dates (effect size -0.16 across 3 studies). Overall, pretrial interventions did not change arrest rates.

Who can do it: Courts, county pretrial services office, sheriff, probation · Done in: The page does not name specific places for supervision.

Limits: Only 3 to 8 studies back each strategy. Practices differ widely between places. In most studies the comparison group had lighter conditions, not none. The page is no longer updated. The evidence does not show a drop in jail population.

Rating: CrimeSolutions (U.S. Department of Justice), practice: pretrial interventions. Sources: CrimeSolutions: pretrial interventions for ensuring court appearance

Schools serve breakfast in ways that more students actually use, such as free breakfast for all, grab-and-go carts, breakfast in the classroom, or breakfast after the first bell.

What studies found: Free breakfast for all dramatically raises participation. Breakfast can reduce short-term hunger and marginal food insecurity, and state breakfast laws may reduce food insecurity among elementary-age children. It can also improve attendance. The page gives no specific percent drop.

Who can do it: School districts, with community partners; the federal School Breakfast Program pays per meal served · Done in: Studies took place in Dallas, Philadelphia, Arkansas (K-7 schools), and rural Minnesota high schools.

Limits: Some studies find breakfast in the classroom does not raise grades more than regular breakfast. Stigma, short schedules, and logistics limit use. The federal rate for a free breakfast was $2.46 in 2025-26.

Rating: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, What Works for Health. Sources: What Works for Health: school breakfast programs

A doctor or clinic gives patients vouchers or boxes for fresh fruits and vegetables, redeemed at farmers markets, grocery stores, or farm stands.

What studies found: Programs that include access to fresh produce appear to increase fruit and vegetable eating and reduce food insecurity. Children's programs may also raise food security and self-reported health in the household.

Who can do it: Clinics and health systems, farmers markets, grocery stores, local food networks · Done in: Wholesome Wave programs in Augusta and Athens, Georgia, and Hartford, Connecticut; the Navajo Nation's Fruit & Vegetable Prescription program.

Limits: Benefits may fade when the program ends or a market closes for the season. Time, training, and transportation are barriers. Long-term effects are not well documented. Insurance changes may be needed to pay for provider time.

Rating: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, What Works for Health. Sources: What Works for Health: nutrition prescriptions

Local governments and nonprofits give low-income homeowners loans or grants to fix heating, insulation, roofs, and other problems. Grants suit people who do not qualify for loans.

What studies found: Home improvements, especially warmth and insulation, show consistently positive effects on breathing problems, mental and physical health, and self-rated health. They are also linked to fewer school and work absences. A Milwaukee study found renovations raised nearby property values without displacement.

Who can do it: County or city housing office, community action agency, nonprofits; USDA grants can go to state and local governments and nonprofits · Done in: Boston Senior Home Repair Program; EmPOWER Maryland; MaineHousing's repair program; USDA Section 504 Home Repair for rural homeowners.

Limits: The page gives no effect sizes or costs. Some research links home improvement loans to more property crime. Loans add debt, so grants may suit older adults better. This helps owners, not renters.

Rating: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, What Works for Health. Sources: What Works for Health: housing rehab loan and grant programs

Housing counselors give renters free or low-cost advice on overdue rent and other debt. Landlords and housing agencies refer tenants early.

What studies found: Advice may reduce overdue rent and may help prevent evictions, especially when given early. A UK study estimated a 22% return on investment for landlords through less debt and related costs.

Who can do it: Housing counseling agencies, public housing agencies, landlords, legal aid, local nonprofits · Done in: HUD-funded housing counseling agencies across the U.S.; Homebase in New York City.

Limits: The page says advice alone is not enough for tenants facing high rent burdens or lost income. It works best as part of a broader program. Long-term effects need more study. The eviction findings come mostly from European case studies.

Rating: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, What Works for Health. Sources: What Works for Health: debt advice for tenants