Gov. Haley Barbour created a tax study commission to examine Mississippi's current tax structure and find possible reforms that could save taxpayers money. That's a big job, to say the least. A meeting Monday was designed to get ideas and suggestions from the public.

It was a good concept, but only 35 speakers, many of whom represented groups ranging from the Mississippi Tourism Association, the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, Common Cause Mississippi, and the hospitality and restaurant association showed up to participate. Leland Speed heads the study commission.

"It's amazing how many groups got represented here today and I really didn't know quite what to expect," said Leland Speed, commission chairman.

"Businesses always have a lot of extra money to spend to send delegations on their behalf," said Hernando Mayor Chip Johnson.

Johnson represented the Mississippi Municipal League. He said he's worried tax revenue will be taken away from cities and towns leaving officials no choice.

"It doesn't sound very good when you say we're going to have to cut services," said Johnson. "And that's exactly what has to happen when you cut out a revenue source."

Right now, cities get 18.5 percent of state sales tax. But a few citizens chose to speak their minds; the grocery tax and tobacco tax were popular topics.

"Lowering the grocery tax which would be a help to all people, working people who are struggling to make ends meet," said George Evans of St. Richard's Church. "And I realize income has to be maintained so you do that by increasing things on non-essential items."

Despite all they heard, one thing is a constant for the tax study commission. Nothing is off the table at this point.

"We don't want to just settle for the status quo," said Speed. "What should we be doing that we're not doing? What are we doing that we ought to stop doing?"

The commission will meet in June and again in July with its first report due in August. Lauderdale County District 3 supervisor Craig Hitt is a member of the tax study commission.