Election 2018 – Sheriff’s tax likely to fail; same for Lafourche garbage increase
November 7, 2018
Bishop and board hold meeting to discuss abusive priests list
November 7, 2018
A hard push from Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter proved unsuccessful Tuesday, with voters rejecting his proposed 1/2 -cent sales tax to expand the use of school resource officers, provide raises for deputies and bolster his office from effects of revenue decreases over a period of years.
As of about 10:30 p.m., with all of Terrebonne’s 92 precincts reporting, the tax measure failed by a 2-1 margin, with 9,958 “yes” votes and 19,934 “no,” or 67 percent against and 33 percent in favor, according to final but unofficial results provided by the Louisiana Secretary of State.
“I want to thank all the people who came out and supported this, the ministers, the organizations who supported me,” Larpenter said in a telephone interview. “Everybody says they want to ‘back the blue.’ What happened to ‘back the blue?’ Every function I go to people say they want to say prayers for our military and our police. But no one wants to support law enforcement financially. Let’s say a prayer. But wouldn’t it be nice to throw a little half-cent?”
Larpenter proposed the tax as the state of Louisiana eliminated half of a temporary one-cent sales tax that had begun during the administration of former governor Bobby Jindal. He had reasoned that by continuing to pay a half cent, Terrebonne voters would not feel a hit, while financing a resource officer in every parish school, including those which are private. About half the revenue generated would have paid for those, with the other half going to raises and other costs.
There was no known organized effort to derail Larpenter’s proposal, but individual and near-viral postings on social media indicated a grass-roots opposition. The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce, a powerful opinion-molder, took no position on the issue. In the past it had opposed a proposed school district tax but granted support when the schools gave the proposal a second pass.
Opponents — with a heavy presence on social media, Facebook in particular — criticized Larpenter’s office finances and questioned whether he could do what he promised, as well as the absence of a sunset clause in the proposal. Budget cuts should precede any attempt to levy any added tax, according to some critics of the measure.
Cuts are what Larpenter now says he must impose to avoid continued borrowing of money on an annual basis to meet shortfalls.
Perks the parish has enjoyed, he says, such an inmate work program and heavy presence at Carnival parades are in jeopardy. Some layoffs may be needed, Larpenter said, before the start of 2019.
“I feel sorry for the decent people in this parish, the elderly, the children, the educators and all the people we represent, including those who voted against taxes. I know they are good people,” Larpenter said. “I guess they didn’t understand what we were trying to do. My office took a hit and they couldn’t see it, but they will see the cuts I am going to have to make, affecting more than 200 non-profit groups we have been serving over the past 25 years. There will be less taxes for our children in the classrooms, less for senior citizens and less for the parish government. The parish government is going to have to clean up on their own now, I can’t be borrowing $6 million next year. You’ve got some ignorant people that don’t realize that half the tax would have gone to our kids.”
Larpenter, who has indicated plans to seek re-election next year, was asked if he believes the rejection of the tax could affect that bid.
“Don’t worry about my election,” Larpenter said. “That is the furthest thing from my mind right now. I have to take care of my office. The election is going to handle itself. It is a slap in the face to these poor deputies who risk their lives out there. They have not had raises. I lost three deputies last week to better-paying jobs. I lost three deputies last week. I have some that are just hanging on. I may not need to lay anybody off. Some may just leave.”
Asked what his plans are when returning to work Wednesday morning, Larpenter said “I’m going to go through and look at where my cuts are going to come from.”
