This weekend it’s a sales tax-free weekend in Mississippi for those buying back-to-school supplies, primarily clothing and footwear under $100, but this week Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich and the Biloxi City Council went on record asking for action on another sales tax issue: interstate sales over the internet.
The City Council, at Gilich’s request, passed a resolution asking the state Legislature to “enact amendments to applicable sales and use tax laws that would tax interstate sales on the Internet in the same manner as intrastate sales.”
The city, in a move expected to be embraced by other cities across the state, is also asking the Legislature to follow the existing formula on the sale tax distribution: of the 7 percent total sales tax, 18.5% should be distributed to municipalities and 81.5 % to the state treasury.”
The sales-tax measure was prompted by the growing use of online purchases by Mississippians, which “has already dramatically altered the source sites of retail sales in Mississippi and has already had a major impact on the operating budgets of municipalities throughout the state.”
The request for action in the Legislature is being sent to state leaders and the local legislative delegation: State Sens. Tommy Gollott and Joel Carter Jr., and State Reps. Randall Patterson, Scott DeLano, Jeff Guice and Casey Eure.
Tax-free shopping: Meantime, those shopping for a host of back-to-school clothing are finding a tax-free weekend. Tax-free shopping began a minute after midnight and continues through midnight Saturday.
See the details on the tax-free shopping weekend
See the resolution on interstate internet sales
City seeks input on plans for CSX access road
The City of Biloxi will host a community engagement meeting on Aug. 2 at 5:30 p.m. in the Biloxi Community Development Department auditorium at 676 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to discuss the proposed federally-funded construction of an east-west roadway north of the CSX railway in east Biloxi.
The two-lane roadway, which would be immediately north of the CSX railway, would be 30-feet wide and run from Reynoir Street to Oak Street. The need for the roadway is being driven by the planned closure of several railway crossings in east Biloxi, including crossings at Dorries and Holley streets.
The city is asking those interested to attend the public meeting to offer comments on the proposal.
Those in need of special accommodations to participate in the meeting should contact city Federal Programs Manager Susan Pickich, at spickich@biloxi.ms.us or 228-435-6269 at least 48 hours before the meeting.
See the proposed route of the roadway
Seafood museum opens nominations for hall of fame
The Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum is now accepting nominations for its 2018 Heritage Hall of Fame class.
Nominations, open to individuals who have shown dedication to honoring the tradition of the maritime and seafood industry on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, are for the following four categories: Boat Owner/Captain/Commercial Fisherman, Commercial Seafood Processing Companies, Industry Tradesmen (which includes factory workers and owners, boat builder, trawl maker, blacksmith, and various trades that supported maritime purposes, supplier of products to the trade and any and all various related fields), and Boat Name.
Anyone interested in submitting a nomination may do so by Aug. 30. Nominations forms and requirements are available at the museum, 115 E 1st St., and online at www.maritimemuseum.org.
The inductees, totaling 20 for this year, will be recognized during a ceremony on Oct. 27 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum.
Visit the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum
View the 2018 Heritage Hall of Fame nomination form
News & Notes: Weekend preview, City Desk, Swimming lessons
Weekend preview: Rodrigue’s Blue Dog: Discovering Late Works on Canvas and Metal exhibit continues at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Biloxi Bulls Dog Show will be at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center, Michael Grimm and Robert Irvine each perform at the IP, Isley Brothers will be at the Beau Rivage, and Great American Speakeasy with Joe Piscopo, Dave Damiani and the No Vacancy Orchestra will be at the Hard Rock. To see a complete calendar of events, click here.
City Desk: The weekly City Desk podcast recorded at City Hall, this week recaps the Blues Over Biloxi airshow and citywide development. To listen, click here.
Swimming lesson registration: The Biloxi Parks & Recreation Department will hold registration for its fall swimming lessons beginning Monday, Aug. 13 at the Biloxi Natatorium. Registration is open to Biloxi and non-Biloxi residents from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To see the flyer and schedule, click here.
