CLARKSDALE, Miss.–The first-ever “sin tax” in Mississippi is being proposed as a way for Clarksdale to pay for more public safety measures to help cut down on crime.
“If you don’t smoke and you don’t drink, you won’t have to pay it,” said Ward 1 Commissioner Bo Plunk, at Monday’s City Commission meeting, where he and Police Chief Robin Linley, both serving on a special Public Safety committee, talked about the recommendations from that committee and how to pay for it.
“We’re looking at doing ten percent tax increase on all tobacco use. No matter what it is, if it’s tobacco, ten cents on it. We’re looking at doing ten cents on all alcohol products,” said Plunk.
Essentially it’s a ten cents on the dollar tax on all of those products sold within the city limits.
Plunk said they are having to be creative because of the declining population and corresponding decline in tax base in the city and county. With the current board holding a record of not having raised property taxes and having no desire to do so, being creative, he says, is the way to get some of the measures paid for.
Some of those measures include hiring more police officers and increasing patrols in high-crime areas, hiring a new code enforcement officer to check on and possibly cite property owners for junk cars and abandoned property and tearing down dilapidated houses.
The Board also heard from an expert who has helped write bills to give municipalities the approval to raise some taxes. He recommended possibly adding a motel and hotel tax, in addition to the one percent tourism tax the city already charges.
Plunk said he believes the committee’s recommendation is the way to go. But, it will require convincing state lawmakers to enact something that sets precedent.
“We’re trying to be creative. This has never been done, what we’re trying to do, in Mississippi,” he said, admitting he smokes and would be paying the tax. “It might help you quit smoking and drinking at the same time.”
