JACKSON, Miss.–The “Build Up Mississippi Act”, the legislation that would phase out the state income tax and cut the state grocery tax in half, passed the Mississippi House Thursday, by a vote of 88 to 24, with some objections from representatives from Delta counties.
“I don’t think this is unique to just Holmes County, but when you look at the schools, the actual buildings across the state, it’s been told to me that the average age is about 63 years,” said Rep. Bryant Clark, a Democrat from Holmes County, indicating his concern that the legislature may be acting too hastily in cutting the taxes.
Clark also expressed concerns about how Mississippi’s state employees would be taken care of, should those sources of revenue be cut.
“The last pay increase they had, I think it was a three percent across the board,” said Clark.
For Rep. John Hines, a Democrat from Washington County, the concerns are mostly about education, especially community colleges.
“When we make cuts we cut money from education or other entities that are considered low-hanging fruit,” he said. “Some of the community colleges have received more money than others. Some of their projects have been funded where others have not.”
Rep. Trey Lamar, a Republican from Tate County and chair of the House Ways and Means Committee did not completely assuage the concerns, but rather said the funding would come from other sources, namely allowing cities and counties to impose additional sales tax. Much of the state funding for municipalities comes from the grocery tax.
House Speaker Jason White, a Republican from West, said he believes the Act will ultimately benefit quality of life for Mississippians and is not a “tax swap”.
The bill must pass the Senate and be signed by Gov. Reeves to become law.
