LAUREL, Miss. ( WHLT ) – A recent proposal from the City of Laurel to annex the Calhoun community in Jones County is drawing criticism from business owners.

Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee said the city would benefit from economic growth if the city line expands into the Calhoun area down Highway 84 West.

Magee said annexation would increase property taxes, but he said the cost would be offset by the area being covered by the city’s full-time fire department, which would reduce insurance rates.

The plan would also include sanitary sewer services, garbage pickup and street maintenance.

“Anytime you start saying taxes are going to increase, then people, they hesitate. You know, nobody wants prices to increase. But there is a there is some some positive coming from the increase,” said Magee.

Scott Carmichael, owner of Mac’s Mini-Mart, criticized the idea.

“The business people do not want this. The City of Laurel is offering us sewer and water and police and fire protection. The sewer system is going to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to run it out here. No one’s going to connect to it unless they have a problem with their existing sewer system. The garbage pick-up service is not a service they will offer us. We will have to pay for it,” Carmichael said.

Magee said the process could take a couple of years to complete. The annexation has to be filed in court and approved by a judge.

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