NATCHEZ &045; Despite a request from Johns Manville, the company will pay the same amount in taxes in the coming year as it did last year.

Ryan Bridges came before the Board of Supervisors Monday on behalf of Johns Manville to ask for a $2 million tax reduction. Bridges said an appraisal report the company had done last year showed the value of the land, building and equipment to be $1.7 million.

&uot;Nothing much has changed,&uot; Bridges said. &uot;The appraisal conducted last year should be presented again this year. We feel the status of the facility is still the same.&uot;

Tax Assessor Reynolds Atkins said Johns Manville was currently on the tax rolls for $3,884,350. Atkins recommended no change in the rolls.

The board unanimously approved Atkins request.

Bridges mentioned that Johns Manville was working with the Economic Development Authority to market the location for sale. He said the land and building would best be used for warehouse space.

&uot;I don’t know of any legitimate offers,&uot; Bridges said. &uot;Two parties contacted Johns Manville, but I don’t know of any offers or negotiations.&uot;

The board also approved a request from EDA Director Michael Ferdinand for a modification on the agreement with Venco, a metal fabrication plant, which has promised to provide 50 jobs in the county.

The change involved a reduction in the amount of money Venco will spend to get the facility operational. Previously they had stated spending $1 million. The new amount is $250,000.

Venco also is investing in loans to open the facility and will pay operational expenses. Estimates so far include a $700,000 loan, $200,000 on equipment and $5 million operating expenses.

Construction on the plant cannot begin until state grant and loan money is processed. Ferdinand said he had a meeting Monday to further that process.