Gov.’s wife joins effort to build Gray Habitat home
May 18, 2010Thursday, May 20
May 20, 2010The Lafourche Parish Council unanimously approved all non-roll forward taxes on its docket at last Tuesday’s meeting.
However, all five roll-forward taxes failed by a 5-2 vote, with two councilmen absent.
Six affirmative votes are needed to pass roll forward taxes.
Council Chairman Daniel Lorraine and Councilman Louis Richard were absent, and Lindel Toups and Rodney Doucet voted against the roll-forward millages.
Both Toups and Doucet agreed the millages should not be rolled forward, saying taxes will likely increase anyway.
“They’re going to have an increase, because the assessor is going up on all the assessments of property,” said Doucet. “There is an increase, so leaving it the same is an increase.”
Measures to pass roll-forward millages that would benefit Fire Protection District 7, General Alimony & Criminal Tax, Health Unit, Recreational Facilities and Public Buildings all failed.
“I’m against rolling forward taxes. I find the people are taxed enough,” said Toups. “I think you need to give the people a break when you can.”
Councilman Joe Fertitta hoped the council would pass the rolling forward of a tax to help firemen in District 7.
“I’m not for taxes, but the firemen need our help. This is a small fire company, and they’re trying to update their vehicles, and they really need that roll forward,” said Fertitta. “It’s the maximum that people approved in their district recently.”
Even though Doucet voted against the measure, he said he is also willing to help the District 7 firemen any way he can.
“I understand what Mr. Joe [Fertitta] had said that they needed it, and they do have some old equipment and they have old fire trucks,” said Doucet. “I know that, but I talked to some of the other fire districts and they’re seeing if they can’t help them… It wasn’t written in stone, but like I told Mr. Joe [Fertitta] it’s a process we can look into with the other fire districts.”
