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Natchez bills face some opposition
Published Friday, April 4, 2008
NATCHEZ— Two bills affecting Natchez received opposition during a local and private committee meeting of the state legislature in Jackson.
Approval from the committee is the precursor to full legislative approval.
The first bill is the $2 occupancy tax per occupied room that will be applied to local hotels.
The second bill is the lease extension from 50 to 99 years that was requested by the Lane Company for their hotel and casino on Roth Hill Road.
Sen. Kelvin Butler, the chairman of the local and private committee who also represents a portion of Adams County, said an Isle of Capri lobbyist was in attendance and was opposed to both bills.
“It really wasn’t anyone on the committee,” Butler said.
Jack Sours, general manager and vice president of the Isle of Capri, said the casino had not sent a lobbyist to Jackson to oppose this bill.
“We do not have any lobbyists opposing that action,” Sours said.
This supposed lobbyist is Stan Flint, who Sours said is a contractor.
Mayor Phillip West said he does not know who Flint was representing or why he was there.
Butler said Flint said he opposed the lease extension bill because he was concerned it might affect existing properties’ leases.
Butler said he spoke with his own attorney and that the extension would not affect other leases.
“(Our) attorney assured us that there is nothing to be worried about,” Butler said.
The only properties that will be affected by this lease extension are Cock of the Walk and Roth Hill Road.
Sours said the Isle of Capri is not opposed to the lease extension for these two properties.
“In reality, we would be in favor of longer lease terms, not opposed to them,” Sours said.
The concerns Flint reportedly had with the occupancy tax were that it has a referendum, which requires approval of 60 percent by the House and Senate to be passed.
The bill contains another referendum that does not require it to be voted on by citizens, which Butler said Flint was concerned about as well.
When a bill deals with revenue, sometimes it is written as a referendum in the bill that citizens must vote on it for it to pass.
West said had it not been for Natchez lobbyist Camille Young’s presence during the committee meeting, the bills may have not passed.
The board of aldermen passed both of the resolutions unanimously in previous meetings.
“I’m told (Butler) was surprised that someone was there speaking in opposition of the bill,” West said.
West said had there been widespread opposition locally to either bill, the board of aldermen would have represented their constituents.
“It was quite clear when there was a unanimous vote for the requests, there had been little opposition,” he said.
Flint could not be reached for comment.
Comments
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on April 4, 2008 at 2:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This was before IP closed,,,From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Natchez, Misssissippi
Location of Natchez in Adams County
Coordinates: 31°33′16″N 91°23′15″W / 31.55444, -91.3875
Country United States
State Mississippi
County Adams
Population (2000)
- Total 18,464
- Density 1,398.3/sq mi (539.9/km²)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 39120-39122
Area code(s) 601
FIPS code 28-50440
GNIS feature ID 0691586
Website: www.natchez.ms.us As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 18,464.
It,s probably lower now.
Posted by 2runnels (anonymous) on April 4, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
what ?
Posted by LdyBreez (anonymous) on April 4, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What has the demeographic information of Natchez in the year 2000 have to do with this artical ? Im confused...
Posted by Negotiator (anonymous) on April 4, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm glad Mayor West is on top of things.
He doesn't "know who he is".... what a clown.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on April 4, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The issue here is the 2$ tax that is being ramrodded through Natchez. Does anybody know what this money will be used for? It will be funneled back to Natchez to help cover the money being lost in the "tourist industry" of Natchez. The numbers at the convention center and the visitors center are and have been in the red for a long time. The tourists just aren't covering the expenses at these two places or as a whole in Natchez. When you take the rent, insurance, LABOR, upkeep,electrical bills, and everything else it would blow you away at what it costs to operate. The financial collapse of this so called industry is the next thing on the close horizon in Natchez. This was a last ditch effort by a select few in Natchez to save it. And this comes from a mole on the inside.
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 4, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This tax will be paid by tourist staying at hotels. Natchez residents will not normally be affected. The extra money will go for new advertising.
Posted by natcheznative99 (anonymous) on April 4, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How is Mayor West suppose to know every person that claims to be a lobbyist?
Posted by LdyBreez (anonymous) on April 4, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez had better figure out something quick, with the gas prices climbing and there seems to be no end insight with summer coming, (predicted to be aprox. $4.00 per gal.) people wont be traveling anywhere. A report I read on CNN said that even folks that use to shop at Macy's and high priced stores are now shopping at Wal-Mart so they can afford to put gas in their tanks.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on April 4, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Watch Fox News Network for Conservative viewpoints!
Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on April 4, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thanks for that information txranger.
Posted by snatchez (anonymous) on April 4, 2008 at 8:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
who is kidding who? Flint is employed by the Isle of capri
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on April 4, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This story is strange? Nobody knows nothing! Sounds like another COP-OUT! SNATCHEZ sounds good to me!
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