Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney says he will decide soon whether State Farm can boost homeowners’ rates in three coastal counties.

Chaney told the editorial board of The Clarion-Ledger newspaper that he should make a final ruling next month on State Farm’s proposed rate increase, which would average 45 percent for homeowners in Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties.

The three counties were hit hard by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Chaney said Monday that home insurance and affordable housing remain serious challenges in that area more than four years later.

He temporarily denied State Farm’s request in September, saying he needed more information from the company.