Lafourche voters to decide on millage hike

Patricia Ann Garrett-Washington
August 30, 2011
Hello football, hello tailgaters!
September 1, 2011
Patricia Ann Garrett-Washington
August 30, 2011
Hello football, hello tailgaters!
September 1, 2011

Fire Protection District 6 of Lafourche Parish will appeal to the voters as it seeks to raise its property tax millage to upgrade its response equipment.


The referendum that will appear on the ballot will officially ask for the authority to incur debt up to $1.3 million over 20 years through general obligation bonds. By voting in the affirmative, voters will also approve a 2.4 mill hike to the property tax roll.


The St. John’s Volunteer Fire Department provides service to the Thibodaux district. In 2010, the district collected 8.6 mills, or roughly $426,000.

Brian Fontenot, a fire investigator with the volunteer fire department, said the bonds would be used to finance a new ladder company and a new pumper truck. The current ladder company is 40 years old and the pumper truck is 30 years old, Fontenot said.


In 1998, voters approved a 20-year bond agreement for $600,000 at a 4.0-mill increase. The district expects to complete its bond obligation this year, seven years earlier than agreed.


The fiscal responsibility saved the district’s property owners about $100,000, Councilman Michael Delatte said.

A few years ago, the district rolled back the 4.0 millage to 1.0. Now, they seek to increase the rate to 3.4 mills through 2031 to keep up with a growing community.


“In 1998, 4 mills only brought us 600,000. Today, 3.4 mills is going to bring us 1.3 million,” Fontenot said. “Just that alone shares with you how much growth we’ve seen in our district and that values have changed.”


According to the Lafourche Parish Tax Assessor’s Office, 3.4 mills equates to $25.50 per year on property valued at $150,000 when including a property owner’s homestead exemption.

The fire investigator spoke before the council and said the growth of the community has spurred the need for updated equipment.

“We’ve seen some large apartment complexes being built and some larger homes,” Fontenot said. “In order to keep up with those homes, we need to purchase that ladder service.”

District 6 also collects 7.6 mills from a separate millage for operations.

The Parish Council voted unanimously last week to place the measure on the Nov. 19 gubernatorial general election ballot.

Bayou Blue seeks renewal

Voters will also decide on Nov. 19 whether or not to renew their 10-mill, 10-year dedication to the Bayou Blue Fire Protection District.

The millage brought in a little more than $350,000 for the district in 2010. It is the base funding for the district and used for operations.

“If we don’t get our millage renewed, then we shut our doors,” said Caroll McKey, secretary of the Bayou Blue Volunteer Fire Department board of directors.

The Bayou Blue District is split between Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes, meaning both parishes’ councils will have to approve the referendum being placed on the ballot.