COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) - A Mississippi city hopes to finish an amphitheater in the next 18 months, but is looking to lawmakers for state money or permission to resume collecting a tax.
Columbus City Engineer Kevin Stafford tells The Commercial Dispatch that the city built a stage using $3.2 million lawmakers borrowed and gave to Columbus.
But another $2.5 million is needed to build 1,100 hard-backed seats, fencing, restrooms, concession stands and ticket booths.
People were interested in these podcasts
City officials hope lawmakers will borrow more money for remaining work. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jeff Smith, a Columbus Republican, says the city could also use money from a renewed 2 percent restaurant tax. The previous tax expired after officials disagreed on renewal terms.
The amphitheater is named for late state Sen. Terry Brown, who died in 2014.
___
Information from: The Commercial Dispatch, http://www.cdispatch.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.