Senate bill would cut property taxes for more industries

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi senators want more industrial projects to qualify for property tax breaks.

Senate Bill 2939 , which passed the Mississippi Senate on Tuesday, lowers the threshold to qualify for a fee in lieu of taxes from $100 million to $60 million.

Under such an arrangement, the Mississippi Development Authority negotiates a tax rate as low as one-third of normal taxes, for up to 10 years. The breaks had been reserved for very expensive developments.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Joey Fillingane, a Sumrall Republican, says lawmakers should lower the cap, but isn’t sure of the right level. The bill originally set a $25 million threshold, but Fillingane says that’s too low.

Sen. Angela Burks Hill of Picayune and Sen. Chris McDaniel of Ellisville voted present. All other senators supported the bill.