SOUTHAVEN - The Penny For Your Parks bill, which will allow the City of Southaven to hold a vote on a one percent tourism tax, was signed into law by Gov. Haley Barbour on Tuesday.
Southaven Mayor Greg Davis said the next step is for city officials to pick an election date and submit it to the Justice Department which will place the election 60 to 90 days away.
"Unfortunately we can't hold it during the primary or general election because those polls don't line up with city polls but it will be well advertised and hopefully we will have a good turnout," Davis said.
Southaven residents have already voted 69 percent in favor of the new tax but language was added to the bill requiring residents to vote again in a Justice Department approved election.
The bill, if voted in favor of by Southaven residents, will allow the city to levy a one percent tax on restaurants and use the proceeds to maintain and make improvements to Southaven's parks system.
Southaven's Snowden Grove Park hosts many athletic tournaments including the Dizzy Dean World Series, which brings in millions of dollars in tax revenue for Southaven each year.
The Penny For Your Parks revenue will be used to add more baseball, soccer and softball fields as well as tennis courts, a senior center and a skate park. The expansion will be added to the existing Snowden Grove park.
Some of the money will also go to renovate neighborhood parks.
The proposed park improvement plan will cost approximately $35 million and the new tax is estimated to bring in $1.2 million per year.
The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. John Mayo, D-Clarksdale, and co-authored by Rep. Wanda Jennings, R-Southaven, Rep. Forrest Hamilton, R-Olive Branch, Rep. Ted Mayhall, R-Southaven and Tommy Woods, R-Byhalia.
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