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Hotel tax approved by board
Published Wednesday, February 27, 2008
NATCHEZ — Natchez aldermen unanimously approved a $2 occupancy tax on hotel rooms at their Tuesday night meeting.
But Aldermen Bob Pollard stressed that it is not a tax increase but a fee for a tourism marketing fund.
Tourism officials originally planned to request an increase in the restaurant and hotel taxes, but opted to eliminate the restaurant tax after a public outcry against it.
The aldermen also voted Tuesday that before any money earned by the hotel tax is spent it must be approved by them.
A resolution from the aldermen still has to go before the Mississippi Legislature for approval before it is finalized.
In other business, the board of aldermen voted unanimously to deny a request from Audubon Terrace developers that would have allowed them to build a proposed project.
The project would have built a low- to mid-income housing development in the neighborhood of Bluebird Drive, but zoning laws prohibit it.
The planning commission voted weeks ago against changing the zoning. It was the group’s appeal to the aldermen that was denied Tuesday.
All the seats in the council chambers were full and people lined the walls to hear the outcome of the appeal.
Dale Danks, attorney for the developers, said before the vote that if the appeal was turned down, the city and the developers may go to court to settle this issue.
Charles Harris, Natchez resident, spoke against the development, saying it would be residential segregation.
By not spreading the development throughout the city, it would cause clustering.
This kind of clustering causes many problems, a point that Natchez resident Jimmy Love brought up.
He said it would cause a high volume of traffic and a high crime rate.
Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said if there were to be a low-income housing development built in Natchez, that it would have to be spread throughout the city.
Alderman James “Ricky” Gray’s concern dealt with creosote, a carcinogenic material used to treat railroad ties.
Gray referred to a land study that showed the soil where the proposed development would be had been contaminated with creosote.
“I want to go on record saying Alderman Gray is not against houses for people,” he said. “But I’m not going to let you move into an area that’s going to make you sick.”
Aldermen Theodore “Bubber” West said the board is in support of a housing project, but not this one.
Mathis said the board has been working furiously to try to bring a housing development to Natchez.
In other business, City Attorney Everett Sanders, in his report, recommended that the board adopt a resolution written by Jim Coy, manager of Natchez Pilgrimage Tours.
The resolution, which asks for exemption of the Delta Queen from the Safety of Life at Sea Act of 1966, will go before Congress.
The resolution was unanimously adopted by the board.
Comments
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 1 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good - I would have preferred it spread between the restaurants as well but at least this will inject some needed funds to the promotion budget.
Let's hope the money is spent wisely and for its intended use!
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 5:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"...Bob Pollard stressed that it is not a tax"
======================================
And therein lies the problem.
Posted by localyokel (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 6:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Stressed it's not a tax"? But it's called a tax. Funny... and someone above wanted it spread between the restaurants? Do people not think anymore? If we had so many tourists that the rest. tax would have made a difference, then the money wouldn't be needed to spend on advertising the area so who would've been taxed? Just us poor locals. Yep. We would have had to pay for the advertising. At least they woke up and just taxed the hotels. I mean, they had to tax someone, right? New session and all, they had to open everything up by instituting a new tax or it just wouldn't have been a normal world. Luckily the locals don't utilize the hotels much so we've dodged a bullet...what's next on the agenda? Can they vote themselves a raise and reroute the money for the tax to pay for it or perhaps there's some other scheme at work here?
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on February 27, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, I suppose we need to forgive the downtown bobble heads, AGAIN. The bobble heads just cannot help themselves, but WAIT, I think that is just what they have done! HMM!
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well, i hope the hotel bills will read "fee for new marketing fund" on the bill.
i guess property taxes are just "fees levied so we can pay for a bunch of stuff". can they change the text on property TAX bills to read like that?
those that don't understand it's a TAX need to recuse themselves from voting. they really don't need to be handling public money.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on February 27, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Recuse is not the word, I think Resign is the proper term.
Maybe, his ward will not put him back in office for a second term. We do not need that kind of thinking on the BOA!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this tax will do some good, but a 1$ tax would of been easier to swallow. I asked around my job, where we have alot of people staying in hotels, they said it wouldn't affect their decision to stay here. They are used to paying them in other cities,
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Jim Coy should run for mayor
Posted by deltaqueensmile (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Aldermen, Mr. Coy, Mr. Byrne and the Mayor for your support to SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN. Could you please make sure Representative Steve Chabot's office in Washington has a copy of your signed Resolution? Your support is greatly appreciated. I can't wait to get back to your lovely city for a visit and hopefully it will be aboard the also lovely DELTA QUEEN!!!!
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wait, another hotel tax?? soo my 'place of living has went up yet again'?? oh i can't be affording that when coming into town i guess for now on it's a tent or meme's!! haha! HERE WE COME MEME or CAMPING AREA!!
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Glad this was done. A national marketing campaign will boost the city's profile and this will provide much needed funding. Good job!
Posted by natchez500 (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i cannot believe no more taxes what happened to that in natchez how can we pay for all this
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Pollard has his "wires" crossed again! The increase is a tax according to the field of economics! I hope that the increased "tax" is spent wisely and managed properly. Attached to the room rate was the proper way to go! Natchez needed this "shot in the arm" for business, that is small businesses and I hope increased tourism!
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I love taxes and I sure will be glad when the new mental health facility is ready and open.
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HAHAHA beammeupscotty! If you love taxes, I'm sure they will put you at the head of the line for the mental health facility!! HAHAHA!
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
knowing what a tax actually is would have been the way to go.
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hopefully none of these clowns will be reelected.
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 4:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whoever provided this article or approves of it is in dire need of medical treatment in a good facility, a mental one.
How could anyone write or expect anyone to believe this tale of insanity??
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 4:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why are we trying to add a tax and boost our tourism advertising, or make this town so attractive to tourists, when the price of fuel had driven all goods skyhigh and more and more people are not traveling or touring anywhere, including Natchez or any other city, YIkes, don,t cook a lot of hotdogs if nobody will come here to eat them.
Its all a waste of money to try to attract something that,s not moving..The President is giving us tax refund checks just to help pay our bills...geez
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 6:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just sign your refund over to the BOA if you believe that this is a great way to promote Natchez. Shoot, just send it to me and I will help promote Natchez.......what an ill-conceived idea this is. How about using the tax to go to Japan and talk to companies there about bringing even a small plant to Natchez to make widgets for them.........Dummies!!!!!!!
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CS, I am with you. This was an awful idea from the beginning. Why is it that Natchez will not chase after real decent paying jobs for the common people in the area? They only want to chase down tourism crap jobs that barely pay minimum wage and keep the workers at arms distance. This is so crazy. Make Natchez an industrial destination, and tourist will come along.
Help stop the insanity in charge of Natchez. Vote out the bobbleheads and the blue-hair backers and get some new fresh ideas moving around in positions of power, or roll up the sidewalks and turn out the lights.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Common sense? What does that have to do with leadership around Natchez? I have watched it for some time now, over 40 years, and it has not ever changed. I do not understand why I even care about it anymore. It is useless.
Natchez leaders, you have dug your grave, now lie down and go to sleep in it.
Posted by youneverknow (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
why don't we have industry located here?
Who makes these decisions?
Come forward and tell us why there isn't industry.
I believe we the readers can understand.
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
what industry is left in the US?? You mean all the jobs that went to India and China????
Awful lot of people pointing fingers--what are YOU doing to bring this mystery industry here?
Posted by youneverknow (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is what i am talking about roberth33. I don't like companies going to China any more than you do. I am sure this was not your decision or mine.
The products are being made, make them here and pay an honest wage. Perhap's i am one of those you can't please all the time.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Elgoodo, I know how the view is from where you are looking right now. It is the same as the view that I said kcooper had about a week ago. I think if you look under his Hysterical Society column, you will further understand this view.
This country has fallen a long way in the last 30 years. The RV sales are where a lot of people are living now because they have sold their homes so they do not have to pay outrageous property and hotel tax.
I know some folks that are working and living in 28 foot travel trailers because they can not afford houses....
Please beam me up scotty, there is no sign of intelligent life left in Natchez leadership!!!!!!!!!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
csguidry, nice post, with the exception of Canada. People forget that Canada has been with us in Afghanistan since day one, and have the thrid highest amount of troops in Afghan behind U.S. and U.K. So lets not alienate them, we need them for the War on Terror.
Posted by Lilsister (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Youneverknow, you asked the question why industries don't locate here. Well, first of all industries don't locate here because we have such a poor public education system in our area now. I attended this meeting on Tuesday night, and there was a group represented by a doctor asking for the superintendent's resignation. The group stated that they feel that the present administration is not leading the schools in the proper direction.
I am still waiting to see this announcement or something about this request to be reported in the Natchez Democrat.
It appears that the reporter present at this particular meeting did not feel it necessary to even mention this request, or what the group asked Mayor West and the board to address.
Lack of interest in public education for whatever the reason is hurting Natchez and our economy. Education is a gift for a lifetime. Good public education makes good students, and good communities. I bet industries will come. Let's all support good public schools!
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on February 28, 2008 at 6:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HMM! Interesting.
Lilsister . please tell us a little about the meeting.
What kind of meeting was it?
Who sponsored the meeting?
Why was there an public education item on the agenda?
Who was the reporter in the meeting?
And on and on?
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 8:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amend!
Posted by Lilsister (anonymous) on February 28, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gemccull,the meeting that I referred to was the Mayor and Board of Alderman Meeting on Tuesday night. Yes, The Committee For Better Public Schools requested to be placed on the agenda. It is the belief of the committee that since the Mayor and Board of Alderman and the Board of Supervisors make appointments to the school board, these boards should hold the people they appoint accountable. Additionally, the school board should hold the superintendent and other employees accountable. The Natchez School System has lots of money; therefore, with the money spent on consultants and salaries schools should not be level 2's. Students should be motivated and making some form of success. Our community should be just as concerned about education as it is about sports. Don't you think so? People should not have to spend college funds sending their children to private or parochial schools. Schools should be orderly and safe, and children should be able to think and dream. If we want children to succeed and prosper, we must support and strengthen our public school system.
By the way, I guess the person who wrote this article is the reporter, who covered this meeting.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on February 28, 2008 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks, Lilsister.
If you have read some of my past comments about our public education system in Natchez, you know that I agree with you.
Again, thanks for the reply.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on February 29, 2008 at 12:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The whole educational system in Natchez needs to be revamped.
I have a right to my opinion, and it is that this country is heading in the wrong direction more everyday.
Natchez as a tourist destination is ridiculous. Let's get real. It has very little to offer to families with small children. Once you have seen Longwood, Dunlieth, and Stanton Hall, the rest look bland and old to you. The kids get bored and want to do something fun, and it can be educational.
Level 2 schools???? That would have never been acceptable 20 years ago. What a crock.
No more money for foriegn countries that are corrupt. Enough of the stupid ideas. Let them settle their own wars.
Our country has spent a trillion or so in Iraq. My gas price should be $1.00/agallon. The countries that are getting oil from there now could kiss off and watch as we keep piping it or way.
Just my view.....See you later.
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