Municipal leaders from around the state will ask lawmakers to send additional tax revenue back to cities and towns for infrastructure repair.
Mississippi Municipal League Director Shari Veazey says many cities and towns around the state are struggling to keep their infrastructure in compliance with federal mandates.
"We're starting to hear even from our smaller towns that they need millions of dollars to do what the EPA says they need to do, and they just don't have it," says Veazey. "So we're approaching a critical juncture with this issue and it's not just Jackson, Hattiesburg, Vicksburg issue. It's going to affect every city and town at some point.
In order to meet some of those financial demands, municipal leaders are calling on lawmakers to increase the amount of money cities receive from sales taxes. Currently, municipalities receive 18 and a half percent. Under the municipal leagues plan, that would increase to 20 percent over the next two years.
But Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs says there are other ways lawmakers can help improve local economies around the state
"They need to do a better job with tax incentives," says Flaggs. "Funding these tax credit plans. So municipalities can come and use those kind of money [sic]. I think we ought to put more money in tourism for the municipalities. The fastest way to grow a local economy is through tourism and small business growth. So they can help us there."
City leaders put forward a similar plan last legislative session that made it through committee, but died on the floor.