County appeals decision to give casino tax money to city

CLARKSDALE — Coahoma County has appealed a judge’s order that it return to the city of Clarksdale about $62,000 collected in casino taxes.

The Clarksdale Press Register reports the county filed the appeal Feb. 15, asking Circuit Judge Johnnie Walls to reverse his decision.

In court documents, county attorney Tom Ross argues that Walls ruled not on a county action to stop casino payments but an inaction by the board of supervisors. Ross said Walls has no authority to dictate to the county or to force the county to pay the money back. Ross says Walls appeared to simply adopt what the city of Clarksdale said was true.

The city will have a chance to respond to the county’s appeal.

Earlier this month, Walls ruled the county’s actions were in retaliation for Clarksdale refusing to negotiate over the annexation issue. Walls gave the county 30 days to comply.

Last May, the county began withholding the monthly payments to the city from casino tax collections. It continued paying the towns of Lula, Lyon and Coahoma. The county has one casino, the Isle of Capri.