NATCHEZ — Even though the bill that would have directed millions toward funding the renovation and restoration of Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center died in committee, its sponsor says hope still exists the money could make its way to Natchez this year.

Sen. Bob Dearing, D-Natchez, introduced four bills that would have funded bonds during the session.

One of the bills would have dedicated up to $6 million for improvements to the Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center; another would have set aside $250,000 for improvements to Meadville’s sanitary sewer collection system; the third would have dedicated up to $190 million to the four-laning of Mississippi 24 between Liberty and Interstate-55; and the fourth would have issued $100,000 in bonds to assist the McComb Main Street Association in establishing a McComb and Pike County Musical Heritage and Creative Arts Museum.

All four bills died in committee earlier this month.

But Dearing said Friday he has hope some of the funds would come through.

“Usually most bonding is done in conference, and I have talked to the lieutenant governor’s (contact) person, and she seems to think we might be OK getting some of it,” Dearing said.

“There is an old saying out there that legislation is not dead until it is dead-dead-dead.”

The conference is usually done in the final days of the session, he said.

Natchez Festival of Music President Mary Lessley said she was disappointed to hear that the bill had never made it to a floor vote, and the Festival of Music could not afford to make the renovations to the building.

The Natchez Festival of Music leases the building, which is owned by the City of Natchez.

A similar funding measure for the renovations was passed as part of a statewide spending package in 2014, but the Margaret Martin provision was removed from the final draft before it was sent to the governor.

The same proposal died in committee in the 2015 session.