Special to the Herald
Ridgeland and Madison County supervisors are urging state officials to locate the Mississippi Department of Revenue in the city.
Both Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee and the Board of Aldermen and the Madison County Board of Supervisors passed resolutions last week that support the relocation of the state department to the building formerly occupied by Diversified Technolgies Inc. at 476 Highland Colony Parkway.
The Ridgeland site is one of three finalists for the state office and its 500 employees. The Mississippi House has passed a bill that the department remain in its current home in Clinton while the state Senate passed a bill that the agency move to Jackson. The Department of Finance and Administration issued a Request for Proposals to help determine the location.
“The RFP process attempts to insulate professional and prudent decision making from politicians looking to please voters rather than safeguard the public trust,” Board of Supervisors President Gerald Steen said. “Unfortunately attempts are being made to circumvent the RFP process.”
In its resolution, Ridgeland officials say that a state economist reports that the short-term economic impact of the relocation to the city would be $68,450 in local sales taxes followed by a total annual impact of $119,7000. Ridgeland officials say the move would also increase the value of property and occupancy rates in Ridgeland.
“Sticking with the RFP does not guarantee the facility comes to Ridgeland, but it gives us a fair shot to compete and make our case,” Steen said. “We want a level playing field to demonstrate why Madison County would be a good home for the Department of Revenue.”
County and Ridgeland officials say that the Highland Colony site is a secure campus, ready for immediate occupancy and offers easy access to Interstates 55,220 and 20.
Both boards are asking that politics not be involved in the final decision. Both ask that the process “work without political intervention to allow all proposals, including the location in Ridgeland, access to a fair, transparent and competitive process.”
State Sen. Will Longwitz said the two legislative bills could cancel each other out. “Then it should go to the RFP process as it should be for the best lease solution.”
To sign an online petition that shows support of the site selection process visit www.lettherfpworkformadison.org.
