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After years of anxiety the Lafourche Parish Law Enforcement District secured a revenue stream to construct a new jail and thus replace the parish’s antiquated, overcrowded and fatigued detention center.
Voters approved by a 16-point margin the levy of a 0.2-percent sales tax for 30 years effective July 1 that dedicates revenue to construction, acquisition, improvement and operation of parish jail facilities. Lafourche Sheriff Craig Webre said the goal is to open within three years a jail that can hold roughly 600 inmates at once.
“I am ecstatic, and that is an understatement,” Webre said. “I’m so proud of the workers of the sheriff’s office who all came together and were unified behind the support of the proposition, recognizing that it benefits not only every member of the organization, but more importantly benefits the people of Lafourche Parish. I’m equally proud of the voters who recognized the need and made the very difficult decision to impose a tax upon themselves for the next 30 years.”
The off-election ballot item garnered 7,231 votes, with 4,204 (58 percent) in favor of the new tax, according to complete but unofficial results provided the Secretary of State. Turnout was 12.7 percent, less than the 15.1 percent turnout for the failed library-jail tax swap last November and less than the 38.5 percent turnout for the parish president primary election in 2011.
Bond writers estimate the tax will raise $2.9 million per year. Over 30 years, without accounting for inflation or changes in spending habits, the revenue source at that estimate would generate roughly $87 million.
When accounting for increased operational costs and earmarking some funds for a future expansion, in case it is necessary, the sheriff said $30 million is the current upper-limit for construction of a new jail.
Independent jail expert James Rowenhorst will be sought to consult for the project. “He has a good working knowledge of the parish and the demographics,” Webre said. “He’s someone that I have confidence in.”
An architect has not been chosen, the sheriff said. Because it is considered a professional service under Louisiana law, architectural contracts do not have to be secured through a public bid process. Webre said previous correctional experience would be a prerequisite for anyone who chooses to lobby for the lucrative contract.
“I would like to work with a consulting group and get some input from various interested parties and stakeholders and develop a process by which a selection is made,” Webre said. “I would not say (the selection process) is wide open. I would say that we’re going to narrow the people we look at to people who have correctional experience.”
Thibodaux-based Gossen-Holloway and Associates, who oversaw construction of a new jail in St. Charles Parish, provided a cost estimate to Webre as the tax proposition was being devised. “(Skipper Holloway) will absolutely be someone we look at, but no decision has been made.”
Members of the law enforcement district will favor a design that incorporates direct supervision – a guard who has a station in an inmate pod – Webre said. The sheriff also said he wants to incorporate educational and substance-abuse programming in attempt to help rehabilitate inmates and curb recidivism.
Maintenance costs, as well the obligation to provide food, clothing and health care to inmates, remains a responsibility of parish government.
The Lafourche Parish Detention Center today has a 244-inmate capacity, and the parish’s average daily population was 351 in 2013. Conceding the current jail is overcrowded and that the status quo poses added risks to guards and inmates, an outreach manager with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Louisiana chapter said a 600-bed facility exceeds the parish’s needs.
Lafourche’s sales tax rate will rise to 9.4 percent in south Lafourche, 8.9 percent in Lockport and unincorporated north Lafourche and 8.2 percent in Thibodaux city limits.
The parish council is currently investigating whether to restore up to a 0.3-percent sales tax to fund garbage collection for all areas outside of Thibodaux, which it can do without voter approval because the perpetual tax was rolled back in the 1990s, and the North Lafourche Levee District may seek to propose a new sales tax to fund flood protection projects.
OTHER RESULTS – 2 RENEWALS PASS
Voters agreed overwhelmingly to extend two property-tax calls, one parishwide and one district specific.
The 10-year renewal for the 1.8-mill Special Service District No. 1 tax passed with 3,692 (66 percent) of the 5,597 voters in favor. Turnout was 12.5 percent, slightly less than the sales tax proposition.
As property values increased throughout the parish, the parish council rolled back the actual tax rate to 1.69 mills. That represents a $12.68 tax bill on homestead-exempt property appraised at $150,000.
Lafourche’s special service district collects money for use constructing, acquiring, improving and maintaining streetlights and to pay for other costs associated with abating pubic nuisances, like abandoned properties and condemned buildings. At least 60 percent of the annual proceeds must be budgeted for public lighting, the tax call says.
Roughly $1.5 million is expected in annual collections, according to the bond writers’ estimate.
Thibodaux-area voters agreed to extend for 10 years a 15-mill tax to fund Fire Protection District No. 7, headquartered near Lafourche Crossing. Of the 158 votes logged, 112 (71 percent) were in favor of the extension. Turnout was 14.8 percent.
The tax rate was rolled back to 11.99 mills as property values in the district increased. That represents $89.93 in annual taxes on a homestead-exempt property appraised at $150,000.
The tax should generate $124,000 per year, according to bond writers’ estimates.
Proceeds are dedicated to acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and operating fire-protection facilities in the district and paying the cost of obtaining water.
Lafourche Parish’s antiquated, overcrowded and fatigued detention center will be replaced after voters approved a new 0.2-percent sales tax that will fund construction of a $30 million, 600-bed jail, according to Sheriff Craig Webre.
