JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
A classic showdown is shaping up between the state house and senate over where to relocate the Mississippi Department of Revenue.
The offices are now located in some temporary warehouses south of Clinton, on Springridge Road. They have 500 employees and have been expecting to move for almost 17 years.
Speaker of the House Phillip Gunn wants to keep those employees in his home district, which is Clinton, and he admits he doesn't know what it would cost to buy the old Worldcom building to move them in to it
"I am for the people of Clinton," said Gunn. "We don't know what those costs are. DFA is looking at that right now."
Despite the house's 71 to 43 vote to acquire the old Worldcom facility for the relocation, state representative Cecil Brown of Jackson is opposed to making the move without knowing more about the proposed new facility.
"The last proposal I saw this was the more expensive by over 20 million dollars," said Brown.
State senator David Blount of Hinds County, says millions could be saved relocating the Department of Revenue to downtown Jackson, in the old Landmark Building.
"That location was recommended last year," said Blount. "Since then the price has been reduced by almost 50 per cent. It's the best deal for the taxpayers of the state."
It appears the house and senate will have to work out their differences.
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