Aguillard: Taxes provide for school system

The three St. Mary Parish school system property tax renewals that will be on the March 28 ballot are vital to the system’s ability to fund maintenance, operation and improvements for parish schools, St. Mary Parish Schools Superintendent Donald Aguillard said.
“The taxes have enabled the district to steadily repair aging facilities to ensure a safe environment for students,” Aguillard said in an email.
Money generated from the existing tax have aided the school system with technology infrastructure, electrical and plumbing upgrades, asbestos abatement, security systems, painting, grounds upkeep, heating and air conditioning systems, and implementation of required safety and code recommendations such as handicap compliance, Aguillard said.
Additionally, the money funded school improvement projects in Districts 2 and 3, such as library renovations at Morgan City Junior High, Morgan City High, and Patterson Junior High, track repairs at area high school stadiums, the multipurpose building at Wyandotte Elementary, as well as roof repairs, canopies, gym floor refurbishment, lockers and parking upgrades at several facilities in east St. Mary Parish, Aguillard said.
The revenue from the millage funded school improvement projects in District 1, including the Franklin Junior High School library renovation, refurbishing gym floors at Centerville High and West St. Mary High, and roof replacement and repair at Foster, LaGrange, and Hernandez elementary schools.
Because parish voters initially approved the maintenance taxes in 1976, they have produced funding for the upkeep of public facilities, Aguillard said.
The Consolidated School District No. 3 10-year 12-mill property renewal tax generates an estimated $2.263 million annually for public schools and other facilities in Centerville, Franklin, Baldwin, Charenton and Four Corners, Aguillard said.
The St. Mary 6th Ward Special School District No. 3 10-year 11.75 mill property renewal tax generates an estimated $2.797 million annually for public schools in Morgan City and Amelia, Aguillard said.
The Consolidated School District No. 2 10-year, 12.17-mill property tax renewal raises an estimated $2.188 million annually for schools in Berwick, Bayou Vista and Patterson, Aguillard said. Money collected from the millage is budgeted to maintain, operate, and give additional support to the public schools in the corresponding district.
Failure to renew each of the three long-standing millages “would result in the immediate deterioration of facilities as well as a lack of improvements necessary for St. Mary to uphold its success and academic stature among other Louisiana districts,” Aguillard said.