PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) - Jackson County supervisors have decided to go ahead with a special election June 23 for a 2 percent tourism tax on hotel and motel rooms, rather than wait for the November general election.
The Sun Herald reports (https://bit.ly/1EN9S4j) voters will be asked to decide whether to institute the tax to support tourism.
Renee Areng, executive director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, presented a formal resolution to the Jackson County Board of Supervisors on Monday. Four cities in the county have endorsed it, but voters will have the final say.
Rich Westfal, Jackson County’s representative on the tourism bureau, recommended the earlier election as a way of saving $50-55,000 a month the county would be obligated to pay starting June 30.
With an annual budget is $3.3 million, Areng said, the bureau promises to use the money to promote the three Coast counties as a single tourism destination.
The tax will cover the $600-700,000 membership fee, allowing Jackson County to have a seat at the table and further develop tourism, which emphasizes nature tourism.
Westfal pointed out the Pascagoula River Audubon Center in downtown Moss Point will open in early fall.
“What a way to focus Jackson County as the epicenter for nature tourism,” Westfal said.
Moss Point and Pascagoula already have a 3 percent occupancy tax, which would increase to 5 percent if approved by voters. Ocean Springs has a 2 percent tax, which would increase to 4 percent. Gautier and the county currently have no room tax.
Half of the county’s hotels are in unincorporated areas. Moss Point has the most rooms, with 750. Pascagoula has 570.
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Information from: The Sun Herald, https://www.sunherald.com
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