Senate Bill 3159

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 991, LOCAL AND PRIVATE LAWS OF 1997, AS LAST AMENDED BY CHAPTER 945, LOCAL AND PRIVATE LAWS OF 2021, TO EXTEND THE DATE OF REPEAL TO OCTOBER 1, 2028, ON THE LAW THAT ESTABLISHES THE LAUDERDALE COUNTY TOURISM COMMISSION AND AUTHORIZES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LAUDERDALE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, TO LEVY A 2.5% TAX ON THE GROSS PROCEEDS FROM ROOM RENTALS OF HOTELS AND MOTELS IN THE COUNTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING TOURISM; TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LAUDERDALE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, TO LEVY AN ADDITIONAL TAX OF $5.00 ON EACH OVERNIGHT ROOM RENTAL IN HOTELS OR MOTELS IN THE COUNTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING A CENTRAL SPORTSPLEX IN THE COUNTY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE LEVY OF THE ADDITIONAL TAX MAY BE IMPOSED ONLY IF APPROVED AT AN ELECTION BY 60% OF THOSE VOTING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Chapter 991, Local and Private Laws of 1997, as amended by Chapter 936, Local and Private Laws of 2001, as amended by Chapter 957, Local and Private Laws of 2005, as amended by Chapter 957, Local and Private Laws of 2007, as amended by Chapter 924, Local and Private Laws of 2011, as amended by Chapter 929, Local and Private Laws of 2014, as amended by Chapter 911, Local and Private Laws of 2017, as amended by Chapter 945, Local and Private Laws of 2021, is amended as follows:

Section 1. (1) The Board of Supervisors of Lauderdale County, Mississippi, (board of supervisors) is authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to create, by resolution duly adopted and entered on its minutes, the Lauderdale County Tourism Commission (commission), as set forth in this act.

(2) The board of supervisors may empower the commission as follows:

(a) To exercise activities related to establishing, promoting and developing tourism within Lauderdale County (county);

(b) To acquire, own, lease, furnish, equip, staff and operate any and all facilities and equipment necessary or useful in the promotion of tourism within the county;

(c) To receive and expend revenues from any sources, including, but not limited to, grants, donations, private enterprise, individuals, the county general fund and those revenues provided by this act;

(d) To own, lease or contract for any equipment or office space useful and necessary in the promotion of tourism and convention business;

(e) To sell, convey or otherwise dispose of all or any part of its property and assets in accordance with general laws of the State of Mississippi providing for such disposal; and

(f) To have and exercise all powers necessary or convenient to effect any and all of the purposes for which the commission is organized and, further, to appoint and employ individuals and agencies acting in its behalf for any and all of the aforementioned powers and responsibilities. However, the commission may not appoint or employ any individual or agency unless the individual or agency is first approved by the board of supervisors.

Section 2. (1) (a) For the purposes of providing funds to promote tourism and conventions in Lauderdale County, the board of supervisors is authorized to levy and assess against and to collect from every person, firm or corporation operating hotels or motels in the county a tax in addition to all other taxes now imposed, which shall not exceed a sum equal to two and one-half percent (2-1/2%) of the gross proceeds from room rentals of all such hotels or motels in the county, excluding charges for food, telephone, laundry, beverages and similar charges. The tax shall not be levied upon or collected from gross proceeds from room rentals for day meetings where the room does not serve as overnight sleeping accommodations. Persons liable for the tax imposed herein shall add the amount of tax to the room rental and in addition thereto shall collect, insofar as practicable, the amount of tax due by him from the person receiving the services or goods at the time of payment therefor.

(b) For the purpose of constructing a central sportsplex in the county, the board of supervisors is authorized to levy and assess against and to collect from every person, firm or corporation operating a hotel or motel in the county a tax in addition to all other taxes now imposed, which shall not exceed Five Dollars ($5.00) per room rental upon each overnight room rental in all such hotels or motels in the county, excluding charges for food, telephone, laundry, beverages and similar charges. The tax shall not be levied upon or collected on room rentals for day meetings where the room does not serve as overnight sleeping accommodations.

(2) For the purposes of this act, the words "hotel" and "motel" shall mean a place of lodging that at any one time will accommodate transient guests on a daily or weekly basis and that is known to the trade as such. Hotels and motels with ten (10) or less rental units are exempt.

(3) Any such tax shall be collected by and paid to the Department of Revenue on a form prescribed by the Department of Revenue in the same manner that state sales taxes are computed, collected and paid; and the full enforcement provisions and all other provisions of Chapter 65, Title 27, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall apply as necessary to the implementation and administration of this act.

(4) The proceeds of any such tax, less three percent (3%) to be retained by the Department of Revenue to defray the costs of collection, shall be paid to the board of supervisors on or before the fifteenth day of the month following the month in which collected.

(5) (a) From and after the effective date of Senate Bill No. ____, 2024 Regular Session, the proceeds of the tax levied under subsection (1)(a) of this section shall not be considered by the county as general fund revenues but shall be * * * dedicated to and used solely for the purposes prescribed in subsection (1)(a) of this section and Section 4 of this act. Accounting for receipts and expenditures of the proceeds of the tax shall be made separately as provided in Section 8 of this act.

(b) The proceeds of the tax levied under subsection (1)(b) of this section shall not be considered by the county as general fund revenues but shall be dedicated to and used solely for the purposes prescribed in subsection (1)(b) of this section and Section 4 of this act. Accounting for receipts and expenditures of the proceeds of the tax shall be made separately as provided in Section 8 of this act.

Section 3. (1) The Lauderdale County Tourism Commission shall be composed of seven (7) members, appointed as hereinafter provided. The board of supervisors shall appoint three (3) members of the commission; the City Council of the City of Meridian, Mississippi, (city council) shall appoint three (3) members of the commission; and the Board of Aldermen of the Town of Marion, Mississippi, (board of aldermen) shall appoint one (1) member of the commission. The commission shall be appointed within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this act, in the following manner:

(a) Board of supervisors: three (3) members for terms of one (1), two (2) and three (3) years, respectively.

(b) City council: three (3) members for terms of one (1), two (2) and three (3) years, respectively.

(2) All subsequent appointments shall be made for terms of three (3) years, except that the appointing bodies shall appoint a member to fill a vacancy for the unexpired term only.

(3) Before entering on the duties of the office, each member of the commission shall enter into and give bond to be approved by the Secretary of State of the State of Mississippi in the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), conditioned on the satisfactory performance of his duties. This bond's premium shall be paid from the commission's funds. Such bond shall be payable to the county and in the event of a breach thereof, suit may be brought by the county for the benefit of the commission.

(4) The members of the commission shall serve without salary or compensation, but the members, staff and employees of the commission may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses, including mileage and travel expenses, whether within or without the State of Mississippi, incurred in the performance of their duties, as authorized by Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972. The commission shall elect officers and adopt rules and regulations and shall fix a regular meeting date, but may provide for special meetings. The commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings as necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this act. A quorum of the commission shall consist of four (4) members.

(5) Any member of the commission may be disqualified and removed from office for any one (1) of the following reasons:

(a) Conviction of a felony; or

(b) Failure to attend three (3) consecutive meetings without just cause.

If a member of the commission is removed for one (1) of the above reasons, the vacancy shall be filled in the manner prescribed in this section.

(6) The commission may employ a director and establish the specific duties of the director, including day-to-day administration and implementing policies established by the commission. However, the commission may not employ any person as director unless such person is first approved by the board of supervisors. The director shall give bond in a sum not less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), conditioned upon the faithful performance of his duties and made payable to and approved by the commission. The premium shall be paid from the commission's funds. The director may employ staff or contract for staff and professional services with other organizations such as attorneys, engineers, accountants, consultants and such personnel as reasonably necessary to carry out the duties and powers authorized by this act. However, the director may not employ any staff unless such proposed employment is first approved by the board of supervisors. The director and staff of the commission shall serve at the will and pleasure of the board of supervisors. The maximum salary that may be paid to the director or any employee of the commission may not exceed one and one-half (1-1/2) times the maximum statutory salary for a member of the board of supervisors.

Section 4. The commission may, with the approval of the board of supervisors, reserve, set aside or expend any or all of the revenue derived from the taxes set forth in Section 2 of this act, in addition to the revenues set forth in Sections 1 and 5 of this act, for the purpose of defraying costs of construction, acquisition, equipping, furnishing or other expenses of a coliseum, sportsplex, multipurpose building or convention center which may be constructed by the board of supervisors, the Mayor and City Council of the City of Meridian, Mississippi, and the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the Town of Marion, Mississippi, acting separately or jointly.

The commission may, with the approval of the board of supervisors, also use such revenues to defray any or all of the principal and interest of indebtedness incurred by any one or more of the board of supervisors or such governing authorities with regard to a coliseum, sportsplex, multipurpose building or convention center if each of the three (3) governing bodies so approve.

Section 5. Any and all remaining tourism revenue and other remaining tourism funds previously collected from tourism taxes by the Meridian/Lauderdale County Partnership shall be paid to the board of supervisors within ten (10) days of the effective date of this act. All revenue and funds paid pursuant to this section shall in all respects be considered revenue as contemplated by Section 1(2)(c) of this act.

Section 6. (1) Before the tax authorized by Section 2(1)(a) of this act shall be imposed, the board of supervisors shall adopt a resolution declaring its intention to levy the tax, setting forth the amount of such tax and establishing the date on which this tax initially shall be levied and collected. This date shall not be less than the first day of the second month from the date of adoption of the resolution, and shall become effective on the first day of such month.

The resolution shall be published in a local newspaper at least twice during the period from the adoption of the resolution to the effective date of the tax prescribed in this act, with the last publication being made no later than ten (10) days before the effective date of such tax.

At least thirty (30) days before the effective date of the tax authorized herein, the board of supervisors shall furnish to the Department of Revenue a certified copy of the resolution evidencing such tax.

(2) If the tax levied under Section 2(1)(a) of this * * * ~~chapter~~ act was imposed without a vote of the electorate, the board of supervisors shall, within sixty (60) days after the effective date of House Bill No. 1630, 2014 Regular Session, by resolution spread upon its minutes, declare the intention of the board of supervisors to continue imposing the tax and describe the tax levy including the tax rate, annual revenue collections and the purposes for which the proceeds are used. The resolution shall be published once each week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper having a general circulation in the county. The first publication of the notice shall be made within fourteen (14) days after the board of supervisors adopt the resolution declaring their intention to continue the tax. If, on or before the date specified in the resolution for filing a written protest, which date shall be not less than forty-five (45) days and not more than sixty (60) days after the board of supervisors adopts the resolution, twenty percent (20%) or one thousand five hundred (1,500), whichever is less, of the qualified electors of the county file a written petition against the levy of the tax, an election shall be called and held with the election to be conducted at the next special election day as such is defined by Section 23-15-833, Mississippi Code of 1972, occurring more than sixty (60) days after the date specified in the resolution for filing a written protest. The tax shall not be continued unless authorized by a majority of the qualified electors of the county voting at the election. If the majority of qualified electors voting in the election vote against the imposition of the tax, the tax shall cease to be imposed on the first day of the month following certification of the election results by the election commissioners of the county to the board of supervisors. The board of supervisors shall notify the Department of Revenue of the date of the discontinuance of the tax and shall publish sufficient notice thereof in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in the county. If no protest is filed, then the board of supervisors shall state that fact in its minutes and may continue the levy and assessment of the tax.

This subsection shall not apply if the revenue from the tax authorized by Section 2(1)(a) of this * * * ~~chapter~~ act has been contractually pledged for the payment of debt incurred prior to the effective date of House Bill No. 1630, 2014 Regular Session, until such time as the debt is satisfied. Once the debt has been satisfied, the board of supervisors shall, within sixty (60) days, adopt a resolution declaring the intention of the board of supervisors to continue the tax which shall initiate the procedure described in this subsection.

(3) Before the additional tax authorized by Section 2(1)(b) of this act may be imposed, the board of supervisors shall adopt a resolution declaring its intention to levy the tax, setting forth the amount of the tax to be imposed, the date upon which the tax shall become effective and calling for an election to be held on the question. The date of the election shall be the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2024. Notice of such intention and the election shall be published once each week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in the city, with the first publication of the notice to be made not less than twenty-one (21) days before the date fixed in the resolution for the election and the last publication to be made not more than seven (7) days before the election. At the election, all qualified electors of the county may vote, and the ballots used in the election shall have printed thereon a brief statement of the amount and purposes of the proposed tax levy and the words "FOR THE TAX" and, on a separate line, "AGAINST THE TAX" and the voters shall vote by placing a cross (X) or check (ü) opposite their choice on the proposition. When the results of the election shall have been canvassed and certified, the county may levy the additional tax if sixty percent (60%) of the qualified electors who vote in the election vote in favor of the tax. At least thirty (30) days before the effective date of the additional tax, the board of supervisors shall furnish to the Department of Revenue a certified copy of the resolution evidencing the tax.

Section 7. Before the expenditure of funds herein prescribed, a budget reflecting the anticipated receipts and expenditures for such purposes as promotion, advertising and operation shall be approved by the board of supervisors. The first budget of receipts and expenditures shall cover the period beginning with the effective date of the tax and ending with the end of the county's fiscal year, and thereafter, the budget shall be on the same fiscal basis as the budget of the county.

Section 8. Accounting for receipts and expenditures of the funds herein described shall be made separately from the accounting of receipts and expenditures of the commission and from the general fund and any other funds of the county. The commission shall have its books and records audited annually by an independent certified public accountant regarding the receipt and expenditure of funds prescribed in this act. The audit shall be performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and the financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The audit shall be completed within six (6) months after the close of the commission's fiscal year. The audit report shall include supplemental schedules of expenditures for items such as consulting fees, travel, salaries, legal, audit, etc., showing for each individual expenditure (1) to whom the expenditure was made, (2) the expenditure amount, and (3) an explanation of why the expenditure was made. The commission shall file a written report of the audit with the circuit clerk of the county, and with the Lauderdale County Legislative Delegation of the Mississippi House of Representatives and the State Senate. The expenses of such audit may be paid from the funds derived pursuant to Section 1, 2 or 5 of this act.

Section 9. This act shall stand repealed from and after October 1, * * * ~~2025~~ 2028.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.