Mississippi Senate Bill SB2860

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/16/23
• Refer: 1/16/23
• Failed: 1/31/23

Caption

Motor vehicle tags; remove portion of fees deposited to State General Fund, or rededicate to Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund.

Impact

The bill creates a designated fund which will specifically handle the tax credits given to counties for the reduction in ad valorem tax revenues due to the tax credit provided for private carriers of passengers and light carriers of property. Under this act, the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund will be administered by the State Tax Commission and will allow the use of funds in the manner prescribed by the Legislature, potentially impacting the financial distribution of resources to local governments.

Summary

Senate Bill 2860 amends various sections of the Mississippi Code of 1972 to redirect funds from the Standard License Tag and additional fees received from sales of distinctive license tags into the newly created Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund. Specifically, it seeks to remove a portion of the Standard License Tag fee that is typically deposited into the State General Fund and instead allocate those funds towards tax relief for motor vehicle owners. This is intended to alleviate the financial burden associated with motor vehicle ad valorem taxes for local taxing districts.

Contention

While proponents of the bill argue that it will simplify the funding process and provide more predictable financial support to local jurisdictions affected by reduced ad valorem taxes, critics may contend that such a reallocation of funds could undermine the stability of the State General Fund. Discussions surrounding the bill also underscore a tension between fostering local tax relief and ensuring that state-level funds remain robust enough to support broader fiscal responsibilities.