WATER VALLEY – An election date for a second vote on implementing a tourism tax in Water Valley will be set Tuesday night in the monthly city meeting. Alderpersons voted unanimously last month to allow voters an opportunity to return to the polls 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 first vote for implementing the tourism tax last March in Water Valley did not pass. With 10 percent of the registered voters going to the polls, 117 voted for the tax and 97 against it, failing to meet the 60 percent threshold for the tax to pass.
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. Other cities across the state have implemented similar taxes to promote tourism, parks and recreation including neighboring Batesville, Charleston, Como, Grenada, Oxford, Oakland and Sardis.
