Board seeks tax discount extension
Published 7:00 am Thursday, March 20, 2014
Pearl River County Board of Supervisor’s President J. Patrick Lee discussed extending an ad valorem tax discount for subdivision developers in the county at Wednesday’s meeting.
Lee said developers are originally granted a six-year tax discount, but several of the tax breaks have expired. To allow those developers to hold onto the properties and sell them when the economy gets better, he would like to extend the discounts for either 10 years or indefinitely.
“We’re looking for something fair to give the developers room to breathe until the economy bounces back,” Lee said.
Board Attorney Joe Montgomery is checking with the state’s Attorney General to get an opinion on the legality of extending the discounts, Lee said.
The board has acquired an extended warranty for the HVAC units at the three community safe rooms in the county. The warranty has been extended until January 31, 2015, which will allow the units to be tested in the summer.
Lee said he hopes to have all the problems fixed by the end of the summer.
The board approved the Victims of Crime Act grant for the 18th year. The grant is for a little more than $63,000 with the board matching about $13,000.
The grant funds support of crime victims and assists them in stabilizing their lives after the event.
Director of Emergency Operations and county Fire Coordinator Danny Manley presented an $111,000 loan check to the board for the purchase of a new fire pumper for the Derby/Whitesands Volunteer Fire Department.
The remaining funds to purchase the truck will be provided through a $73,000 grant from the Mississippi Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program.
Also at the meeting, the board:
— Approved a private cemetery on Bouie Road in Carriere.
— Acknowledged the Building Division and E-911 Addressing February reports
— Approved tax assessor personnel changes, tax strikes, increase and reductions of assessments, homestead changes and void homestead escapes.
— Closed out a Waste Tire grant request and approved an application for a new waste tire grant.
— Approved a new Solid Waste Assistance grant application.
— Acknowledged the county engineer update.
— Approved the claims docket .
The board went into executive session to discuss litigation and then adjourned until April 7 at 9 a.m.