Starkville’s board of aldermen is preparing for votes on a pair of resolutions that, if passed, will seek financial help from the Mississippi Legislature as the city prepares to build a tournament-ready park off Highway 25.
During Friday’s work session at City Hall, Mayor Lynn Spruill said the agenda for Tuesday’s regular board meeting will contain a resolution asking the Legislature for a $1 million appropriation to help build the new park at the Cornerstone industrial park. The park is located in west Starkville on Highway 25 just south of its intersection with Highway 12.
A separate resolution, if approved, will ask the Legislature to approve a 1 percent bump to Starkville’s food and beverages and hotel taxes for the construction, maintenance and operation of the city’s parks. Spruill said the tax, if approved, would be solely for the city, unlike the city’s current 2 percent tax, which is used for the city’s parks but is also split with the Mississippi State University Student Association, the Oktibbeha County Economic Development Authority and Starkville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
“In the resolution, I’ve asked for 20 years (for the 1 percent tax) so that we can use it to pay off bonds,” Spruill said. “We wouldn’t have that four-year repealer. Hopefully, they will be willing to do that for us because we are tying bonding to it.”
Should the board approve the resolution, and should the Legislature pass the tax into law and the governor sign it, Spruill said the city will then have to hold an election for voters to decide whether they want the tax to take effect. The tax would require 60 percent approval from voters to pass.
“I was hoping that they might entertain a reverse referendum, but it has been said in no uncertain terms that it will be a referendum, which is fine,” Spruill said. “It just means we need to get out there and make sure the community understands what we’re trying to do and be supportive. If they’re going to be so, they get a chance to voice it. Instead of paying $1.09 for your hamburger, you’re going to be paying $1.10.”
Aldermen who attended Friday’s work session — Ward 1’s Ben Carver, Ward 2’s Sandra Sistrunk, Ward 3’s David Little, Ward 4’s Jason Walker and Ward 7’s Henry Vaughn — seemed generally supportive of the tax resolution.
“To get over the first hurdle for sending this to the Legislature, we as a board need to be 100 percent united,” Little said. “Not 6-1. We need to be united on this to send in this request, to show we’re fully united and behind it as a community. Otherwise, there’s a possibility that it may not pass.”
Carver said he felt the referendum is a fair way to let the public decide if they want to support the city’s efforts with the parks. Walker agreed and pointed out the 1 percent tax is expected to generate about $1 million in additional revenue per year. The city would have to raise its taxes by four mills to get the same amount.
Sistrunk said she felt it was important for aldermen to keep in mind that the tax’s potential new revenue, while primarily meant to support the construction of the new facility, could be used to support work at all of the city’s parks.
Vaughn also said he could support it, but wants strong language in the resolution to limit the tax’s use to parks only.
Spruill said the city is continuing to explore sponsorship opportunities as well, to help fund the recreation facility.
New facility renderings coming
The city will receive renderings of its planned tournament facility on Tuesday when Memphis architecture firm Dalhoff Thomas makes a presentation to the board about the project.
Aldermen approved a $61,000 contract with Dalhoff Thomas in June for the firm to develop a master plan for the tournament facility. At Friday’s work session, aldermen said they hadn’t seen the initial renderings, but expect the starting estimate for the park to be in the $15-20 million range.
“I fully expect them to put a number out there that’s going to make us go ‘Oh! That’s a big number,'” Walker said. “…In my experience, and I would say in other people who do development, if you don’t start with that big number — it’s always easier to go from a big number and work your way down. It’s way harder to start from that low number and then realize it’s gonna cost much more.
“I expect they’re going to present all the bells and whistles and all the fields they think we can support,” Walker added. “Then it’ll be up to us realize how much we can actually afford and how we back the project down.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.