NATCHEZ — Signs promoting a “Yes” vote on the proposed hotel tax on public property are illegal.

The signs standing on the grounds of the Natchez Visitor Reception Center and Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center are in clear violation of the sign ordinance, City Planner Rusty Lewis said.

Lewis said the ordinance requires that political signs are kept off public properties, are to stand five feet from the street and should be kept away from busy intersections.

Lewis said it his department works to enforce the sign ordinance based on the severity of the violation, but that the political signs had not been addressed.

It’s not possible to always have everything perfectly in order, he said, especially when it comes to the signs.

“There are a couple of incidents,” he said of the illegal placements. “I guess in a perfect world there should not be. It’s like sprinkling pepper — a lot of it gets where it should but and a few grains of pepper end up off the plate.”

“I wish it were a perfect world.”

In addition to placement of the signs, some people are also upset about the message being sent.

The $2 hotel occupancy tax would create marketing funds for the city to promote tourism.

On the signs, it says the hotel assessment will create “jobs, jobs, jobs.”

Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, at Tuesday night’s regular board meeting, claimed the signs were misleading.

“In no way is this assessment tied into creating more jobs,” she said. “I consider this false advertising.”

While jobs may not be the most direct result from the tax, tourism officials argue that more jobs will be seen.

Sally Durkin, media liaison for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, is the first to say jobs will be created.

“It’s not misleading when all of the new hotels and casinos and the new Office Depot and all of these things have new jobs to offer,” she said.

It’s also about retaining those jobs, too.

“We need funding in order to market Natchez to maintain those jobs,” Durkin said.

By bringing in money to create stability in those entities, it all makes Natchez more attractive to potential business, too.

Durkin said marketing dollars are key to the development of the city and the development in jobs.

She made reference to a 2006 study conducted by the state division of tourism.

“For every $1 spent on advertising, $13 was the return,” she said. “That’s very strong.”

The signs were paid for by the private sector.

Durkin said this includes business owners.

Director of Tourism Connie Taunton said some donations came from the Country Inn and Suites.

Director of the Convention Center Walter Tipton said the convention center has also contributed donations to help pay for the signs.