Olive Branch raises taxes on hotel, motel stays to fund parks
Olive Branch poll worker Aaron Hatch (middle) helps a voter during elections on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
Olive Branch voters approved a 1% tax on hotel and motel room stays Tuesday to help fund improvements to the city park system.
With 1,581 voters for the tax and 164 voters against the tax, the referendum won 90.6% of the vote.
At least 60% of residents casting votes had to approve of the tax in order for the referendum to pass.
Collection of the tax is expected to start Oct. 1, after the state Department of Revenue is notified. The state collects the tax and then forwards the city’s share. Olive Branch would receive its first money from the tax on Dec. 1.
“We appreciate this vote of confidence,” Mayor Ken Adams said shortly after learning of passage. “100% of the funds will go directly into the parks program.”
Olive Branch voter Alan Rainer casts his ballot on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
Mississippi legislators approved bills in the Spring that gave Olive Branch and Hernando the authority to hold referenda for new taxes to fund park improvements. Southaven and Horn Lake received four-year extensions on existing pro-parks taxes.
Tuesday was the first time Olive Branch city officials have been able to bring the question of a special tax for parks to registered voters. Hernando will hold its vote Nov. 8 for a 1-cent-per-dollar tax on prepared foods at places like restaurants.
Olive Branch elected officials decided to get their extra funds for parks from out-of-towners, the people who’d normally be renting hotel and motel rooms.
The mayor estimated the new tax will raise $400,000 to $500,000 annually, with “every penny” spent on parks and recreational enhancements.
Potential projects using the tax include more walking trails, additional neighborhood parks, improvements to soccer facilities and creation of a disc golf course.
Matt Rushing, who stopped at the senior center to vote, said he liked the idea of improved park facilities but voted no on the new tax.
Olive Branch voters cast their ballots on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
“The city has enough tax money with all the buildings they put in,” Rushing said.
Rance Reagan, whose grandchildren enjoy the city sports, was all for the tax.
“Everybody needs more money, especially for public facilities,” Reagan said. “I’m sure they will put it to good use.”
Topics
Olive Branch DeSoto County Ken Adams Mayor Ken Adams 2022 electionsToni Lepeska
Toni Lepeska is a freelance reporter for The Daily Memphian. The 34-year veteran of newspaper journalism is an award-winning essayist and covers a diversity of topics, always seeking to reveal the human story behind the news. Toni, who grew up in Cayce, Mississippi, is a graduate of the University of Mississippi. To learn more, visit tonilepeska.com
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