Restaurant tax referendum coming up June 9
By Randy Bell
The City of Clinton has launched a voter education campaign as a June 9 special election approaches on whether to renew a two per cent restaurant tax. The tax, which funds parks and recreation improvements in Clinton, was approved in 2022, but state law requires a new vote every four years.
The theme of the campaign is “Every Bite Builds.”
Director of Communication and Tourism Marlee Price-Cook says, “I don’t really think a lot of people understand that, when you go to a restaurant, you’re actually helping build parks.”
Price says she is working hard to explain to the public how the $5.4 million in tax revenue has been spent.
“We have created a website, ‘clintonms.org/2percent,’ and, on that page, you can find information on what the Parks and Recreation Department has done with that [revenue]. We highlight a lot of the projects—the Brighton Park playground, the pickleball courts and restrooms at Traceway.”
The page also provides details about the newest project, a renovation of the concessions and restroom building at Traceway’s Softball 4-Plex. That construction should be completed next year.
In addition to the website, a billboard on Highway 80 is helping to raise awareness about the upcoming election.
“It’s just informational,” Price-Cook says. “We’re not trying to sway anyone, one way or another. Just the facts.”
Restaurant tax collections help fund upgrades to Brighton Park that included poured-in-place rubber flooring, shade structures, perimeter fencing, and a new state-of-the-art inclusive playground.
At the State Capitol this year, the Mississippi Legislature, at the City’s request, extended the repeal date of the law which authorized the tax, but Clinton voters will make the final decision on whether restaurants will continue to charge the two per cent for another four years.
Sixty per cent approval is needed for the proposal to pass. In 2022, 66 per cent of the voters were in favor of the tax. On June 9, one polling place will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Traceway Park.
Most of Clinton’s surrounding municipalities, including Brandon, Byram, Canton, Florence, Flowood, Jackson, Pearl, Richland and Ridgeland, all have restaurant taxes in place.
Rendering of what the completed concessions and restroom building at Traceway’s Softball 4-Plex will look like when the project is completed. The project is being funded by restaurant tax collections.Not only do visitors to Kids Towne not have to use a porta potty any longer, but the entire park area was expanded with the addition of Towne Park. The project, funded with restaurant tax collections, brought eight new pickleball courts, a pavilion, a concessions area and permanent restroom facilities to serve Towne Park, Kids Towne Park, and Bark Park.
