Ridgeland park tax fails to pass

RIDGELAND — A proposed tax increase on hotels and restaurants to fund a $50 million park expansion failed on Nov. 5.

The measure did not receive the required 60 percent to pass in the general election, final returns show.

Ridgeland voters were asked to consider a temporary 2-percent tax increase on hotels and a 1-percent tax increase on restaurants within city limits. 

The tax increase would have funded the expansion at Freedom Ridge Park and would have been eliminated after the project was completed. 

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.

Mayor Gene F. McGee said he found the results “unfortunate.”

“This is something that needs to be done,” McGee said.

He said this issue would be discussed by the aldermen moving forward, although he did not have a timeline for the next steps.

“We will see what the board wants to do,” McGee said.

The item will require a resolution from the city board requesting the state Legislature grant them permission to put an item on the ballot. McGee said the measure would likely look the same as what was on the ballot on Nov. 5.

“There would be no reason to change it,” he said.

McGee said he felt there was popular support for the tax and that the presidential election was distracting on this particular issue. He said they would get 60 percent if it were a municipal election.

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.