Pete Perry, a member of the Jackson Municipal 1% Sales Tax Commission, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson during its October 5, 2021 meeting. Perry discussed how the commission started and the projects that have been completed and the ones that are planed for Jackson. On January 14, 2014, citizens throughout Jackson convincingly passed legislation to approve a 1% increase in the sales tax charged on many purchases within the city, with the money raised by this tax to be used exclusively for addressing in part the city’s infrastructure needs. This vote recognized the need for improving Jackson’s infrastructure largely resulting from a lack of maintenance over many decades. The support expressed by the citizens’ vote was due at least in part to the assurance that the money collected would be spent strictly on infrastructure and not become part of the city’s general budget to be spent on routine operating expenses. This assurance was given to the voters by the legislature’s requirement that an Oversight Commission would be established with the responsibility to establish a Master Plan for infrastructure improvements. Once the Master Plan was developed, the commission was further charged with insuring that the tax funds were spent in compliance with the Master Plan. The Oversight Commission is composed of ten voting members – four representing the business community and appointed by the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, three appointed by the Mayor with approval by the Jackson City Council, and one each appointed by the Governor, Lt. Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Some of the projects that have been completed are Northside Dr., N. State St., and Mill Street. Some of the projects that are under construction or planned are, Riverside Drive, Meadowbrook Rd. and Woodrow Wilson. Shown in photo, Uriel Pineda, Club President; Perry and Dorsey Carson, club member. Here is the link to the meeting video https://vimeo.com/624752680.
