By John Howell
Como’s elected officials passed a resolution authorizing the collection of its tourism tax Monday afternoon.
Como voters overwhelmingly passed a resolution approving the tourism tax last December but the town is yet to receive any money, prompting a question to Mayor Everette Hill during the April 14 meeting of mayor and board of aldermen.
“We started calling,” the mayor said. City Clerk Alice Houston called the Department of Revenue repeatedly.
“She called all day on Wednesday,” the mayor continued. “We found out that the resolution had to be passed after the election,” he said. A resolution that was passed prior to the referendum was not recognized by the Mississippi Department of Revenue.
That prompted the mayor to hastily call the special meeting Monday evening at 6 p.m. to pass the resolution.
Alderwomen Teresa Dishmon, Ruby Higgenbottham and Alderman John Walton attended, giving Hill the necessary quorum to quickly pass the resolution 3-0.
The resolution levies a tax of two percent of the gross proceeds of the sale of prepared food and beverages.
It also calls for collection of $1 per night of occupied hotel/motel lodging.