LIVINGSTON – For residents of Livingston Parish, there are two proposals on the ballot that parish officials say are needed to fund critical programs in the parish.
The first proposals voters will see concern the parish’s health department, animal shelter and animal control. This proposal would update the existing tax, but reduce the maximum millage to 2.
A similar proposal to keep the millage maximum at 2.5 failed last year.
Livingston Parish Councilor Ricky Gough said: “Voters are uninformed, they don’t know. They’re voting against the tax.” “We’re putting it back on the ballot and educating everyone, but at the same time we’re going to bring it down.”
Goff said the current rate cap is 2.5 mills, but that is scheduled to end this year.
Money collected from taxes is donated to the health department. Goff said if the initial proposal doesn’t pass this year, the health department will have to operate with surplus funds. He said there is enough surplus funds to run the health department for three to four years.
Mr Goff said the council currently has a millage rate of 1.5 for the parish.
The first proposal would update the tax but reduce the maximum millage rate that Congress can set to 2. It also authorizes parish councils to use funds raised through taxes to support both the health department and animal shelters and control programs.
“The new proposal to update the ballots would actually lower the cap. So right now the cap we can raise is 2.5. Hopefully, if approved by voters, the cap will go up to 2. ” Goff said.
Several voters at the polls said they weren’t sure what the proposal meant.
“I had to try to decipher the words in it, but I think I understood it…but the only time I hear about it is when I see it written on my ballot,” said Cory Guenther, a local voter. said.
“Like I said, it’s sad. I think they want to educate us better,” said voter Frank Barber.
Goff said the health department is inspecting restaurants, nursing homes and day cares, as well as the parish’s sewer and water systems. Again, the proposal adds that councils can use tax dollars for animal control.
“There are 64 parishes, we’re the ninth largest, and we don’t have animal control,” Goff said. “We have $8.7 million in surplus in the bank right now, so we’re going to use some of that, $2.5 million to $2.7 million, to build out animal control. We’ve spent years pouring over it. We just need to have access to it for legal use. ”
The second proposal concerns the parish’s existing 1% sales tax.
Three-quarters of the revenue generated goes to roads and bridges, and one-quarter goes to prisons. The diocese argues that once the prison is fully funded, any surplus should be used for roads and animal control.
“This is not an update, it’s just allowing us to use the money we raise for roads, drainage and animal control,” Goff said.
One voter said he wanted to know if the money was going to be spent on roads, which roads it would be spent on.
“Give us money from your tax dollars, but let us show you where it’s going and what it’s doing,” said voter Pietre Critchfield.
