The city of Biloxi, Mississippi recently filed a motion in Harrison County Chancery Court to recoup .18 million it is owed as a result of the legislature inadvertently moving to the general fund the city’s share of Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi’s annual rent. That amount also includes interest and attorney fees, said Biloxi Public Affairs Director Vincent Creel. He added city recovered .13 million of its rental share a few weeks ago, said.
The legislature swept the money to the general fund in an effort to enhance transparency and accountability into state finances, Creel said. He has proposed “a friendly, yet formal way” to get back the money, by having the casino pay its rent directly to Biloxi, which would then forward the balance to the state. “The proposed solution would allow all parties to enter an agreed order that would allow Biloxi to collect the rent in the months ahead, recoup the funds owed for the current year and then distribute the appropriate division of rent to the state and city from month to month thereafter,” Creel said.
