Houma-Terrebonne chamber endorses Amendment No. 4

Dear Editor:

On Nov. 4, Louisiana voters will be asked to make decisions on seven proposed constitutional amendments. The Houma-Terre-bonne Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors has taken a position in favor of Constitutional Amendment 4.

The Constitution requires the state to give parish governments a portion of the severance taxes collected in each parish. It requires that 20 percent of the state severance tax on all natural resources be shared with the parish of origin. But, the amount each parish can receive is capped at $850,000.

The amendment would raise that cap to $1.85 million in 2009 and $2.85 million in 2010.

The amendment would also dedicate a percentage of the severance tax revenues to transportation projects falling under the Parish Transportation Fund.

Drake Pothier,

President/CEO, Houma-Terrebonne chamber