2015/4/1-Members of the group Mississippi Alliance for Fairness at Nissan (MAFFAN) say that Nissan North American should have paid for new schools instead of the citizens of Canton. Canton voters recently passed a $33 million dollar school bond issue that will be used to build two elementary schools and a ninth-grade academy. This bond issue will increase the property taxes of Canton homeowners.

MAFFAN believes that Nissan North America should provide more financial assistance to the school system in Canton.

“Nissan is located in Canton, MS. It’s a shame that a plant that yields billions of dollars in revenue each year and that has received over $300 million in state incentives only provides a tiny fraction of these profits to the school district each year,” says MAFFAN member, Rev. James Sims, pastor of Greater Tabernacle Ministries, in Canton, MS.

Nissan currently has tax exemptions in place that allows the corporation to not pay taxes. This means that Nissan is not contributing their fair share of building a strong and vibrant education system in Canton. If Nissan paid their fair share, the Canton School District would receive millions of more dollars in tax revenue. The consequences of Nissan not paying their fair share are real. Canton has already raised their millage rates to make up for school district shortfalls. Now, Canton School District has to pass bonds to finance the building of and maintenance of their schools.

MAFFAN is an alliance of local clergy and community advocates supporting the work of Nissan workers for a fair election at Nissan-Canton.

source: MS NAACP Staff