Video: Tax Increase Coming With Industrial Park

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — The Starkville Board of Alderman decision to approve the site for the new industrial park is drawing a lot of support from city leaders and the business community, but not everyone is totally on board.

The site will be located near the Highway 82 bypass and Highway 389.

Mayor Parker Wiseman said the city will invest $7 million dollars in bonds into the new industrial park, the same total as the county’s bonds.

Wiseman said that will cost the city, “around 2.5 to 3 mills…what that equates to is between $25 and $30 a year on $100,000 dollars worth of residential property.”

Wiseman was originally against the approved location of the site, but said the outpouring support from the local business community helped to change his mind.

Whie the site was approved, not every alderman was for the industrial park.

Vice Mayor Roy A. Perkins voted no, and said his long history of voting against tax increases was the deciding factor.

“I think that businesses should provide their own funding for setting up shop and coming in to do business…”, said Perkins, “…I do not think that we should be raising taxes to bring about businesses.”

Perkins said the only tax increase he has voted for in his six terms as alderman is the recent one mill increase to fund the Starkville Police Department renovations, stating only because it was a “two decade issue.”

Perkins is also worried the investment is too big a risk because “there is no guarantee businesses will come.”

The Vice Mayor also said he voted against the industrial site because of a lack of natural gas resources in the city limits.

“It was represented to us last night that it takes $10 million dollars to run a natural gas pipeline to the proposed location…”, said Perkins, “…lets assume those calculations are true, who’s going to foot the bill?”

Ward 4 Alderman Jason Walker told WCBI that residents should expect to see a five mill increase coming due to the investments from both the county and the city.

Wiseman said the board of alderman can only set the tax rates in September.

Categories: Local News

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