Restaurant owners will not support a doubling of the local tourism tax, saying there’s no clarity about how the money now being raised is spent by the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.

&#8220We’re being taxed without representation, and we don’t know the ins and outs of what’s being collected now,” said Joyce May, owner of Walnut Hills and president of the newly formed Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association. &#8220We need a seat on the VCVB.”

District 4 Supervisor Carl Flanders, who has a nomination pending on the city-county tourism agency board, has said he will name someone from the association.

The VCVB now operates on a 1 percent tax added to sales at restaurants, motels and bars. It generates about $1 million annually.

For two years, Mayor Laurence Leyens has said he’d like to see the tax doubled to raise more money for marketing Vicksburg to travelers, but he’s also said the VCVB needs a better organization and structure first.

Any increase would be sought through the Mississippi Legislature as a local and private bill. Lawmakers convene in January for a three-month session.

The restaurant owners and operators were unanimous.

Rowdy Nosser, owner of Rowdy’s Family Restaurant, said he gets the impression the mayor is thinking too big.

&#8220People have been taxed to death and they can’t stand any more right now,” Nosser said. &#8220It’s very critical not to have any more tax increases right now.”

The state’s general sales tax is 7 percent. Inside Vicksburg, there is also a 2 percent tax on room rentals, enacted 10 years ago to help pay for the Vicksburg Convention Center, which was paid off in March.

Leyens has said he will not revisit the proposed tax until a restaurant professional is on the VCVB board, along with a viable hotel and lodging group – and both have voices in marketing efforts in the community.

The VCVB has undergone board and structural changes amid tension over the past 12 months. Operations have been contracted out to Compass of Vicksburg, a private firm, which has developed a plan of action adopted by the board.

Nearly 25 local restaurant, bed and breakfast and lodging owners attended the group’s second meeting. The association had been inactive for four years before meeting in September.

Leyens, who did not attend Monday’s meeting, did speak to the group via phone, and advised them to be more active and unified, which did not go over well.

&#8220We invite everyone to the table,” Nosser said. &#8220It’s their choice to attend. We need to have some entity and have our voices heard. We’re small, locally owned businesses. He’s trying to keep everything big, but we can’t take care of the small things.”

&#8220There are so many boards and associations,” he continued. &#8220I don’t know how everyone is going to get on one page and come together for a common goal.”

May said she thinks the VCVB is in better shape than it’s ever been, but the restaurant association’s representation is important.

&#8220We meet the tourists every day,” she said. &#8220They should have asked us many moons ago to join the board. We know we won’t get anywhere demanding things. We just need to get our foot in the door.”