1/24/2008 - MMA President & CEO Named to Governor's Tax Panel

Jay C. Moon, CEcD, FM, MMA president and CEO, has been named by Gov. Haley Barbour to serve on a public-private commission to study Mississippi’s tax system on a comprehensive basis, including how federal and local tax structures affect Mississippi citizens and businesses. “These individuals represent a wide range of expertise in this important subject matter; they come from business, legal, academic and legislative backgrounds. They also share a common bond in that they are all Mississippi taxpayers. I appreciate their voluntary service on this commission and know they will do an excellent and thorough job in carrying out this study,” Barbour said. Barbour said the commission will provide a report of its findings by Aug. 31, 2008 — after completion of fiscal 2008 — to the governor, the Mississippi Legislature and the public on recommendations for any adjustments. In addition, the staff of the Mississippi State Tax Commission will be asked to provide information requested by the commission, and the Legislature will be asked for a small, one-time appropriation to pay for support of the commission. In addition, MMA has hired Fluor Global Location Strategies (Fluor GLS), one of the world’s largest engineering, procurement and construction companies, to study Mississippi’s tax structure as it relates to manufacturers. The study will look at how the tax burden on Mississippi manufacturers compares to other states and offer suggestions for ways to bring that burden in line. This 50-state study of the state and local tax burden on manufacturers will include any incentives, credits or rebates that offset, reduce or eliminate the specific tax burden. The results will include a survey of MMA members to determine what tax issues they consider most important. “For six months, we have been collecting information around the state and nation,” said Moon. “This study will give us a firm grasp of where improvements are needed. We will utilize solutions used by other states to phase out or eliminate unnecessary taxes.” Leland Speed, a Jackson businessman and former executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority, will chair the governor's commission. Other members of the commission include:

Tony Adams-CPA Ron Aldridge-National Federation of Independent Business Manley Barton-Jackson County Supervisor Mike Bemis-Business Leader Joe Blount-Chairman, State Tax Commission Paul Breazeale-CPA Tom Butchart-CPA Alveno N. Castilla-Attorney Buck Clarke-State Senator, Hollandale Cobie Collins-Yazoo County Supervisor Toni Cooley-Business Leader Socrates Garrett-Business Leader Karen Green-Professor Craig Hitt-Lauderdale County Supervisor Delbert Hosemann-Secretary of State Terri Hudson-CPA Paul Johnson-CPA Dean Kirby-State Senator, Pearl; Chairman, Senate Finance Committee Bill Lampton-Business leader Gene McGee-Mayor of Ridgeland Sonny Meredith-Former Lawmaker Carl Nicholson-CPA Aubrey Patterson-Business leader Tate Reeves-State Treasurer Tommy Robertson-Former Lawmaker Bill Rutledge-Mayor of Pontotoc Robert Smith-Mayor of Columbus Mike Summerford-Business Leader Troy Stovall-Administrator Gray Swoope-Mississippi Development Authority Forest Thigpen-Mississippi Center for Public Policy Anthony Topazi-Chairman, Momentum Mississippi David Waide-Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Percy Watson-Lawmaker; Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee Charlie Williams-Former Lawmaker, Department of Public Safety Blake Wilson-Mississippi Economic Council

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