VIDEO: Columbus Expresses Interest in Tourism Tax

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Golden Triangle Development LINK’s plan to extend the 2% restaurant tax is not voted on today by the Board of Supervisors.

At today’s meeting, District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks expressed Columbus’s interest in taking part in receiving some of the proceeds from the tax.

Brooks believes some of the money should go to the city’s parks and recreation department.

Some city leaders have also expressed an interest in wanting majority representation on the CVB board.

Right now, the county appoints four members and the city also appoints four members.

The current plan calls for the LINK to receive $250,000 a year and the rest of the money would go to the CVB.

However, Brooks isn’t sure how this will all play out.

“It’s going to be some give and take, and that’s the very nature of politics. It gives and takes. Every… no one side can have everything, and so I’m looking forward to the next few days and weeks to dialogue and see what everyone else is thinking so at the end we can have a product that we can all live with,” said Brooks.

Meetings are underway with local leaders to discuss the issues.

The measure must be approved by the legislature.

Lawmakers say their colleagues won’t consider the restaurant tax if there is not a unanimous vote by the city and county.