Council of Governments backs school tax renewal

The St. Mary Parish Council of Governments, representing multiple area municipalities, threw its support behind the St. Mary School Board’s maintenance tax renewal during its January meeting.
The maintenance districts fund upkeep and improvements in the parish’s 24 schools and two administrative complexes.
A special election is scheduled for March 28 to solicit voter approval for the 10-year tax renewals.
In District 3, including Morgan City and Amelia, an 11.75 mill tax is requested. In this district, total estimated revenues are $2.6 million for the fiscal year ending June 30.
District 2, which includes Patterson, Berwick and Bayou Vista, would be asked to renew 12.7 mills. For those schools, $2.15 million is budgeted to be collected.
Finally, a 12-mill tax is asked in District 1, which is west of the Calumet Cut.
District 1 is estimated to collect $2.13 million during the fiscal year.
The resolution passed by the Council of Governments said that “failure to renew present funding levels would unquestionably result in the inability of schools to remain structurally sound and supportive of educational advancement.”