Voters to decide money move for Laf. safety

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Our view: Stay involved in your child’s daily dialogue
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Lafourche voters will decide May 2 if $3.2 million annually should essentially be rededicated over a 10-year period for safety services at parish public schools.

The election will ask voters if they would be willing to create an additional property tax of four mils, generating $3.2 million annually.


Simultaneously, the school district promises to decrease its bonds and dept millage from 15.2 mils to 11.2 mils if the vote passes, subtracting four mills and $3.2 million annually from the total school board tax roll.

“It will not be a tax increase when all of this happens,” said Bond Attorney Hugh Martin said.

Martin said that a 15.2 bonds and dept millage is no longer needed because the valuation of the parish has continued to grow over recent years.


“It has gotten to a point where it is only required to levy 11.2 mils per bond,” Martin said.

The total taxable value of the parish has more than doubled from $435 million in 2004 to $896 million in 2014.

When voters go to the polls, the ballot cannot state that the school district will simultaneously lower the bonds and dept millage to make a possible tax change a wash. However, Lafourche Fiscal Officer Don Gaudet cited similar propositions in 1997 and 2013 as proof that the school district will keep its word.


“I don’t have another way of getting people to trust you than to have a good reputation, which is do what you say you’d do,” Gaudet said.

The fiscal officer said school distric7 officials will explain the proposition in greater detail to various civic groups in the weeks leading up to the election.

Gaudet explained to The Times that this round about process is necessary because amount of the bonds and dept millage is not directly voted on by voters. Therefore, the school district cannot simply rededicate that money for another use.


If approved, the money would be used to add security cameras, alarm systems and additional resource officers at schools.

“Students and teachers need to feel safe and secure so that students can get the learning experience that they need to be productive citizens,” Gaudet said. “We are fortunate to have a tax structure that will allow the School Board to find a permanent source of funding so that we can finance long-term solutions to safety and security issues. It would be irresponsible for the Board not to try to secure a permanent funding solution.”

Martin added, “This represents a step forward in the parish’s plan to address the current needs. The times have changed and the needs have changed so this tax would be for that.”


The rededication would allow the board to pay for the safety program annually and consistently instead of relying on money becoming available, grants or one-time sources.

“Those types of funding sources are not what is needed for a comprehensive safety and security program,” Gaudet said. “Safety and security of our students and employees has become a major priority in light of the recent and not recent events such as Sandy Hook and Columbine shooting incidents.”