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Alderman moves to rescind tax-abatement intent for Ocean Springs Senior Development; board votes to rescind
Summary
An alderman moved to rescind the resolution of intent to grant an ad valorem tax abatement to Lighthouse Assisted Living, citing new information about the sale and an estimate that the abatement would cost the city about $265,000; the board debated and carried the rescission on a voice vote.
An alderman asked the board to rescind its earlier resolution of intent to grant an ad valorem tax abatement to the Ocean Springs Senior Development Center (Lighthouse Assisted Living), saying he had learned in recent days that the property had been sold and that the abatement would impose a substantial fiscal burden on taxpayers. The speaker, who said he had calculated a potential cost to the city of about $265,000 over coming years, said he could no longer, in good conscience, support the abatement and asked other aldermen to join him in correcting the vote.
Board members debated whether the information about a sale was verified and whether rescinding would expose the city to legal or contractual risk. One alderman said rescinding without documentation would be premature and urged the sponsor to bring supporting evidence before the board. The motion to rescind the resolution of intent was seconded, put to a voice vote and recorded as carried in the transcript after members called supporting and opposing voices aloud.
Minutes show the board discussed that state programs and existing agreements had been considered when the abatement was first approved; members asked staff for any supporting documentation and for clarity on how a change in ownership would affect the abatement eligibility.
