City will seek 2nd park vote
RIDGELAND — City officials will ask the Legislature again to allow another $50 million referendum to expand Freedom Ridge Park after a November vote on the proposed tax hike failed.
The proposal to increase taxes on hotels and restaurants could come as early as this summer’s municipal elections.
Ridgeland voters were asked to consider a 2-percent tax increase on hotels and a 1-percent tax increase on restaurants on Nov. 5, but the measure failed to receive the required 60 percent to pass.
Mayor Gene F. McGee said he found the results “unfortunate” and noted he thought the vote would have passed without the distraction of the presidential election.
Ridgeland aldermen voted unanimously at Tuesday’s regular meeting to submit the same proposition to the Legislature for approval to proceed with another vote.
Alderman-at-Large D.I. Smith made the motion, and Ward 4 Alderman Brian Ramsey seconded. The item was approved on the consent agenda.
The item was placed on the consent agenda with little discussion. Smith asked the previous night at the board’s work session if they could receive approval by the next municipal election this summer. McGee said he believed they could.
The next round of municipal elections is set for June 3, 2025.
McGee told the board he thought the measure would have a better shot during the municipal election.
“I have analyzed the votes,” McGee said. “I think it is very, very possible it would pass from what I can see.”
Voters were asked to vote either “For the tax” or “Against the tax.”
Results from the Madison County Circuit Clerk’s office show the measure received 5,230 votes for and 4,095 votes against. “For the tax” received 56.1 percent of the vote, just shy of the required 60 percent.
According to results from the Circuit Clerk’s office, 10,001 votes were cast in the city’s seven precincts. McGee said more than 600 people voted in the city who did not cast a vote on the tax increase and felt if those people had voted, they could have gotten to the required 60 percent.
City officials had to petition the Legislature to have the item on the ballot, and 2024 Senate Bill 3221 authorized the city to proceed. Gov. Tate Reeves signed the bill on May 10.
McGee has previously said due to the shape of the project “there would be no reason to change” the proposed tax.
The tax increase would have funded the expansion at Freedom Ridge Park and would have been eliminated after the project was completed.
“This is something that needs to be done,” McGee has said.
The proposed expansion would roughly double the park’s size. Specific amenities include pickleball courts, soccer fields, and baseball fields.
The project is currently estimated to cost around $50 million dollars, but city officials have said they will not know a final price until they are able to enter the design phase of the project.