VIDEO: Split Board Decision Poses Threat to Restaurant Tax Renewal

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County Supervisors took up the restaurant tax Monday.

The split decision of 3 to 2 vote by the board of supervisors may approve the resolution, but the decision could jeopardize the bill’s fate in Jackson.

We’re talking about nearly $2 million that stands to go away..

However, LINK leaders believe there is a way to keep the restaurant tax.

“A couple of weeks ago, Nancy and I approached city council and the Board of Supervisors, reminding them that the tax expired and gave them a sample go-by resolution and a sample go-by bill the we thought would work,” said LINK CEO, Joe Max Higgins.

The resolution presented gives the Golden Triangle LINK a guaranteed $250,000 per year to help continue bringing business to the area.

About $1.6 million would go to the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau to bring people to the area.

The recent split decision between supervisors could shorten the resolution’s lifespan in Jackson.

“That’s not the law that it has to be unanimous, but the practicality is it needs to be because the legislators don’t want to solve local fights and problems,” explained Higgins.

The plan is to try and have the bill in the capitol before the holiday season, and Higgins says there’s still time.

“If this things not resolved by Tuesday of this week or Wednesday of this week of Monday of next week, that doesn’t mean all is lost. You know, at some point in time, though, we will have to come together if we’re going to do it. We will have to come together and develop a plan that we can all get behind and work and send it down to Jackson,” said Higgins.

A worst case scenario, however, puts a dent in the county’s economic development.

“If, for some reason, they can’t come to resolution, the tax will expire in July of this coming year, and it will… it will have an adverse impact on us and our budget, It will have a devastating effect on the CVB,” said Higgins.

The CVB has not returned our calls for comment.