Voters In Water Valley Will Have Second Shot To Adopt A Tourism Tax
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WATER VALLEY – Voters in the city will have a second opportunity to adopt a two percent tax to be levied on the sale of prepared food sold inside the city limits of Water Valley. If adopted, the money would be used to promote tourism, parks and recreation in the city. The Water Valley Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to schedule a special election during the Feb. 7 city meeting.
The decision by city officials for a redo follows a failed attempt last March in a similar special election. With 10 percent of the registered voters going to the polls on March 8, 117 voted for the tax and 97 against it, failing to meet the 60 percent threshold for the tax to pass.
Mayor Donald Gray started the conversation during the meeting, explaining that people may have not understood the benefits of the tax when they voted last year.
“I would like to propose that we set another special election, I think a lot of people understand now exactly what it really was. It is a usage tax that would be on prepared food,” Gray said. “When we say tourism tax, I think people get the wrong idea. It can be used for parks and tourism. Our parks, especially Crawford Sports Complex, is one of our biggest sources for tourism.”
Gray said he had reached out to the mayor in Charleston about the benefits of the tax in the neighboring city.
“They have made a lot of money for improvements,” Gray said.
The mayor also cited a similar referendum in Oakland last, an unprecedented vote in the state with every participating voter casting a ballot in favor of the tax.
Ward 2 Alderman Freddie Folson voiced his support in favor of the tourism tax during the city meeting, changing his position from last year when he was against scheduling a special election.
“I think it is a good idea,” Folson said. “A lot of people were thinking like me on it, that is was just for tourism and putting signs up. If we can get it passed, it will really help that park.”
Folson also noted that the city’s park director, Rachel Daniels, deserves the support that the added revenue would offer.
“Rachel is doing a great job, we need to have this election. I believe it will go this time,” Folson said. “You explain that it is for the park, that the money will go to the children for the park, and it will go. She wants to put in a playground for children.”
“A lot of people have talked about a splashpad, this is a way to fund it,” Gray said.
“Yes, we have been talking about that for years now,” Ward 4 Alderperson Nicole Folson agreed.
The vote by board members starts the process to put the matter before voters who live in the city limits. The date of the election has not been set and will likely be late spring or early summer. The ballot will give voters two options, “FOR THE TAX” or “AGAINST THE TAX.” To pass, the referendum requires 60 percent of the voters who cast a ballot in the election to vote in favor of it. If adopted, the proceeds of the tax must be placed in a special fund separate from the city’s general fund and can only be used for tourism, parks and recreation. Other cities across the state have implemented similar taxes to promote tourism, parks and recreation including neighboring Batesville, Charleston, Como, Grenada, Oakland, Oxford and Sardis.
