(1) With respect to ad valorem taxes becoming due after January 1, 2001, every person providing telecommunications services subject to sales tax under Section 27-65-19(1)(d), Mississippi Code of 1972, and which operates in more than six (6) counties, shall be entitled to a refund from the State of Mississippi in an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate amount of the ad valorem tax paid by such person on Class IV property, as defined in Section 112, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to local taxing districts.

(2) On or before March 15, 2001, and on or before March 15 of each year thereafter, the Department of Revenue shall pay all refunds to which telecommunications service providers are entitled under the provisions of subsection (1) of this section for ad valorem taxes that became due on or before the first day of February immediately preceding March 15.

(3) The payments made pursuant to subsection (2) of this section shall be paid by the Department of Revenue exclusively out of the Telecommunications Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund created pursuant to Section 27-38-7. To the extent that the amount contained in such fund does not equal or exceed the payments prescribed by this section, such payments shall be proportionately reduced by the amount of the shortfall; provided, however, that any reduction shall be carried forward and paid to the respective telecommunications service provider in any succeeding taxable year or years in which monies remain in the fund after payment of all refunds pursuant to subsection (2) of this section for such year. The Department of Revenue shall determine the amount of any reductions pursuant to this subsection.

(4) On or before April 15, 2001, and on or before April 15 of each year thereafter, amounts in the Telecommunications Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund, which are in excess of the amounts necessary to pay all refunds pursuant to subsection (2) of this section and all amounts carried forward pursuant to subsection (3) of this section shall be transferred into the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund established in Section 27-51-105.