By John Howell
Two local and private bills currently under consideration in the Mississippi Legislature would extend the city’s tourism tax until July 1, 2023.
The legislation enabling Batesville’s three percent sales tax on prepared food and beverage and motel lodging will expire in July 1, 2017 under the sunset provision of the original 1997 bill that first authorized the tourism tax.
House Bill 1587, introduced by District 10 Representative Nolan Mettetal of Sardis, and Senate Bill 2208, introduced by District 9 Senator Gray Tollison of Oxford, contain similar language extending the tax for six more years.
During The March 1 meeting of Batesville’s mayor and aldermen, Alderman Stan Harrison requested an update on the legislation.
“They both extend it and it’ll get us past 2023,” assistant City Attorney Colmon Mitchell said.
Proceeds from the tourism tax service the debt on the bonds that financed the construction of the Batesville Civic Center that will be paid off in 2023.
Mettetal’s House Bill 1587 has been referred to both the House Local and Private Committee where Representative Lataisha Jackson of Como is Vice-Chairman and to the House Ways and Means Committee where Representative Trey Lamar of Senatobia is Vice-Chairman.
Tollison’s Senate bill has been referred to the Senate’s Local and Private Committee where Gary Jackson (R) French Camp is chairman.
Last September, Batesville aldermen voted to pay Jackson lobbyist Ben Thompson up to $30,000 to help steer the local and private bill to passage.