City to garnish state tax refunds to recover millions in past-due debts

The Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved an effort to collect millions in unpaid debts and fines at its Monday’s meeting.

The city will garnish state income-tax refunds to recover money due to the city, which could include past-due items such as unpaid parking tickets, property tax and court fees as well as money the city has spent to clean up derelict properties. The action comes in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Revenue and through an agreement with Municipal Intercept Co. LLC.

Public city records show that nearly $4 million could be recovered from 2018 alone.

“This is just the beginning of this process,” said City Attorney Nancy Thomas.

“In other words, if you owe the city, you need to pay up,” North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said, “If you don’t, we’re going to get it from you, one way or the other.”

Vicksburg’s tourism industry was also top-of-mind during the meeting.

Financing of an energy saver project was proposed as a budget amendment to ensure new heating and air-conditioning units and LED-lighting throughout the Vicksburg Convention Center facility. Thomas brought to the table a 15-year loan from Trustmark Bank at 3.08 percent interest.

Thomas also brought up allocations of the city’s tourism fund referring to a $500,000 grant from the state legislature in 2016. The funds have been earmarked for a number of projects, including the Catfish Row Museum, and rehabilitation to city structures, parks and landscaping. Thomas said this will include updating parking garages, enhancing crosswalks in the downtown area, and building a proposed civil rights park at the former Kuhn Memorial Hospital site. She announced that $35,000 will go to the civic group Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park to enhance the visitor experience at the park.

Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said he hopes tourism funds can also be used for a digital projector at Washington Street Park.

“We will be able to show movies, football games, even this board meeting on the screen downtown, and that will help with tourism,” Flaggs said.