Report Urges Lower Food Taxes in Mississippi

Coast municipalities from Waveland to Pascagoula will gain in sales tax revenues if the Mississippi Legislature passes a cigarette tax increase/food tax reduction bill, according to a report released last month by the John C. Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University.The "Tobacco and Food Taxation Policy Options in Mississippi" report shows that Gulfport will receive $143,022 and Biloxi $101,650 in new sales tax revenues if the Legislature passes either House Bill 247 or Senate Bill 3098, both of which will increase the cigarette tax and reduce the sales tax on food from 7 percent to 3.5 percent.

If only our legislators and governor will listen.