Tonight, the residents of Picayune will have an opportunity to voice their opinion regarding a proposed Tax Increment Financing plan to build infrastructure for a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Picayune.
According to previous Item coverage, the infrastructure for the Walmart store will cost about $2 million. However, local developer Andy Cooper said he also plans to build residential and commercial areas around the Walmart Neighborhood Market. The TIF bond would cover a fraction of Cooper’s expenses from the entire infrastructure, which could cost as much as $6.5 million, if the city and county approve building everything, including the grocery store and commercial and residential developments.
The TIF bond would eventually reimburse Cooper for at least 50 percent of the infrastructure’s expenses, previous Item coverage states. The money would come from the building’s value in the form of increased sales and ad valorem taxes.
No matter your opinion, it’s important to attend tonight’s hearing to make your voice heard.
Before making a decision, city officials need to hear from the people how it will affect them.
In the United States we have the unique opportunity to voice our opinion, whether that be through voting or at public hearings.
That’s what our service men and women fought for and are still fighting for, our freedom.
Sometimes, the candidate people want to win, loses and laws are made that the people didn’t vote on.
However, the important thing to remember is that their voice was heard when they entered that voting booth.
If anyone has an opinion on this matter, be sure to head to Picayune’s City Hall at 5 p.m. tonight and let your voice be heard.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” –– Martin Luther King Jr.