State Treasurer returns more than $17K to Meridian

Published 2:01 pm Friday, January 31, 2025

The City of Meridian has a few more dollars to spend than it originally budgeted for after State Treasurer David McRae’s unclaimed money team was able to identify more than $17,000 in unclaimed funds, primarily for  Meridian Police Department. The funds were found as part of the treasurer’s ongoing effort to put money back into the hands of local governments, non-profits and individuals.

“This is not the state government’s money, and it belongs in the local communities where it can do the most good,” McRae said.

Treasurer McRae’s unclaimed money team has already returned a record $125 million of unclaimed money to Mississippi citizens, more than in any single treasurer’s term.

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Money becomes “unclaimed” when it is declared abandoned by a financial institution and sent to the state after five years.

It could have been a misaddressed check an old account or even a forgotten utility deposit, small amounts that, over time, can add up.

It is then the Treasurer’s responsibility to find the rightful owner and return it

“We’ve made a lot of changes to increase the speed at which the money is matched, including switching to an eClaims system, reducing the need for a notary. In some cases, we’re now using new technology to proactively find and return lost money without requiring a claim,” McRae said.

Feb. 1 is National Unclaimed Property Day, a renewed call for every citizen to search for money that could be listed in their name or that of a lost loved one.

Residents can search for unclaimed property by visiting treasury.ms.gov/search.