WEST POINT,Miss (WTVA)-- Citizens in West Point voted Saturday on a tourism tax increase.
The results are in.
Unofficially, the tourism tax passed; 373 voted for the tax increase to 242 who voted against the increase.
The measure received just enough votes to pass at slightly higher than 60 percent.
But the city clerk said the results will not be certified until Wednesday.
"We did have some absentee. But not as many as we thought. I think it was like at 4:30p-m we had a total of about 461 votes, "said West Point City Clerk Lela Jack.
At issue is a tourism tax increase from one percent to two percent on restaurants and hotels to be paid in addition to the required state tax.
The measure brought mixed feelings from voters.
"I've got to go to restaurants. I eat out a lot. And I don't want to keep paying higher taxes for eating out when I go out," said Pat Cannon of West Point.
"Well, I believe its going to be a good thing for West Point and the residents. I think its going to be something that we've needed and has been a long-time coming,"replied James Crawford of West Point.
"Well, I'm not really sure. I really don't know to be real honest. I'm debating myself before I walk in there to know whether it's good or not," said Sandy Henley of West Point.
The money will be used primarily to fund improvements for the West Point parks and recreation facilities as well as for entertainment.
That will include things like soccer fields and tennis courts or whatever city leaders determined need to be done to improve tourism.
Supporters say that the additional tax money raised would equal to about $200,000.
