State Sen. Bob Dearing is optimistic that a bond bill including $10 million for Natchez downtown revitalization will pass the Senate.

The bill, which includes money for a variety of projects around the state, passed the House Tuesday.

&uot;I think it has a good chance of passing&uot; the Senate, Dearing said.

But, work on the bill isn’t finished.

House and Senate negotiators will meet in the next three weeks to hammer out final details of which projects the state will &045; or won’t &045; be financed by the state this year.

The money for Natchez would likely be used to make grants to improve facades of downtown buildings.

&uot;It would definitely help our downtown,&uot; Dearing said.

Rep. John Reeves, R-Jackson, objected to some of the bond proposals during a House debate Tuesday.

He said the state needs to stop running up debt, especially in a year when legislative leaders say it will be tough to pay for programs like education and Medicaid.

Reeves said he knows why many legislators were voting for a bill that has projects around the map.

&uot;I’m going to just shuck the corn &045; because you’re getting the money,” he told his colleagues.

House Ways and Means Chairman Percy Watson, D-Hattiesburg, said there’s nothing in the bond bill for his district, but he understands many lawmakers like to go home and tell constituents they’ve gotten projects funded.

&uot;I’ve seen all the joy and all the delight in a member’s face who got something in this bill,” Watson said.

The bill passed 85-31.

The state issues bonds to pay for long-term projects and the money is repaid, with interest, over several years.

Lawmakers met in a special session in November to handle bond projects.

Some senators said they wanted to limit the number of bond proposals to be considered during the current regular session.