Lack of unanimous support for a Senate bill authored by state Sen. David Parker, R-Olive Branch seen as a compromise bill on the controversial “Penny for the Parks” tourism tax dedicated to parks improvements led the Southaven Mayor and Board of Aldermen Friday to convene a special meeting to unanimously pass a new bill that puts the issue on the June 6 municipal ballot.
An earlier House bill that sought to extend the repealer on the tourism tax bill for another four years has languished in committee.
A contingent of local lawmakers, including state Rep. Dan Eubanks, R-Walls, Rep. Dana Criswell, R-Olive Branch, Rep. Ashley Henley, R-Southaven and Rep. Steve Hopkins, R-Southaven, have steadfastly refused to support that measure leading the chairman of the House Local and Private Committee, Rep. Manly Barton, to inform Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite that he did not plan to bring the House measure out of committee. Rep. Robert Foster has said that he would vote in favor of a bill in which there was agreement among his colleagues and the will of the voters.
Desoto Times
3/10/17
Magnolia Tribune
