Letter: St. Mary has too many costly districts already

One is always happy when recognized for performance. I extend my thanks to Paul Naquin, parish president, for the call-out to me in the letter that he penned and is distributing around the parish.
I note that he takes issue with my “assumptions” about the proposed tax. He did not mention that I copied, verbatim, the assumptions of S.M.I.G. (St. Mary Industrial Group). Which is also opposed to this tax.
OK, he says that the Parish Council is not going to appoint commissioners and such. But he does not address the fact that this is simply another taxing district that will be number 45 in this parish of 53,000 population.
He then goes on to show how $6.5 million will be doled out to the municipalities and the parish. Folks, that is $6.5 million out of your pockets. It is not free.
As I mentioned, the parish is collecting a significant amount of your money (taxes) and wasting it on operating so many taxing districts these could easily be consolidated and the savings spent on infrastructure without raising your taxes.
One councilman actually said that it is only 0.92 mills, and businesses will pay most of it. Just as I taught my students at Nicholls State University and Young Memorial in my Business Law classes: People (you) pay taxes, not business-corporations. They collect taxes and remit them to the state.
This $6.5 million will come out of your pocket. By the way, that is plus interest, attorneys fees and other expsoenses.
Thanks for your attention and be certain to vote no on this tax.
Charles C. Culotta Jr.
Patterson