Naquin: No Plan B for road district tax

After Saturday’s failure of a tax proposition designed to fund road improvements, Parish President Paul Naquin said there’s no alternative in the works.
“The people spoke,” Naquin said. “I’m not going to bring it back up.”
The measure on Saturday’s ballot proposed borrowing $6.5 million by issuing bonds to finance road projects in a new road district that covers the parish, except for Morgan City. The proposal would have rededicated the unneeded portion of a library property tax to repaying the road bonds. Morgan City is in neither the parish library district nor the new road district.
In Saturday’s tax election, the proposition failed. According to complete but unofficial returns, 1,149 people, or 53 percent, voted against bond issue and rededication, while 1,012 people, or 47 percent, voted for it.
Naquin said several factors figured in the proposition’s defeat. At the top of the list was opposition by the St. Mary Industrial Group, a group of parish business leaders.
“You had SMIG going around working very hard to defeat it,” Naquin said.
But there was also a low turnout. Less than 9 percent of the parish’s 33,000 voters cast ballots Saturday.
“That’s the biggest thing,” Naquin said. “If we’d have gotten our people out, we might have done better.”
The measure itself was complicarary tax that was tough to sell.
“It was hard to explain that you’re taking a library tax and building highways,” Naquin said. “People wanted to know what the library was going to do.”
The tax measure also coincided with a downturn in energy industry employment.
“It’s one of those things,” Naquin said. “People just don’t want to pay more taxes.”
Naquin said that if the parish comes up with another funding mechanism for the road district, it’s unlikely that it could be enacted within the next six months, after which term limits prohibit Naquin from seeking re-election.
Also on Saturday, three public school maintenance property tax renewals passed easily.
“I am deeply appreciative that voters have supported our efforts to continue a planned maintenance program to extend the useful life of our instructional facilities,” Superintendent Donald Aguillard said in an emailed statement. “Funds from the property tax measures aid for the school system to address a wide array of maintenance needs including technology infrastructure needs, 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.”
Consolidated School District No. 2 approved a 12.17-mill property tax measure, 586-412 or 59 percent to 41 percent. The district includes Raintree Elementary, B.E. Boudreaux Middle, West St. Mary High, LaGrange Elementary, J.A. Hernandez Elementary, W.D. Foster Elementary, Franklin Middle, Franklin High and Centerville School.
Consolidated School District No. 3 authorized a 12-mill assessment, 622-485, or 56 percent to 44 percent. The district includes Hattie Watts Elementary, Bayou Vista Elementary, Berwick Elementary, Patterson Junior High, Berwick Junior High, Patterson High and Berwick High.
Sixth Ward Special School District No. 3 approved an 11.75-mill property tax measure, 322-203 or 61 percent to 39 percent. The district includes M.D. Shannon Elementary, J.B. Maitland Elementary, M.E. Norman Elementary, Wyandotte Elementary, J.S. Aucoin Elementary, Morgan City Junior High and Morgan City High.
In Morgan City, voters approved a 2.5-mill property tax renewal for Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 2, which operates, along with the city government, a series of pump stations to control flooding in the city. The property tax raises about a quarter of the district’s operating money. About 61 percent of district voters, or 294, voted yes, while 39 percent, or 189, voted no.
Saturday’s election returns:
—Law Enforcement District No. 1: 15 mills – continuation, one of one precinct, 23 Yes (66 percent), 12 No (34 percent).
—Road District No. 1: $6.5 million bond issue – 20 years, 42 of 42 precincts, 1,012 Yes (47 percent), 1,149 No (52 percent).
—Consolidated School District No. 1: 2.17 mills – 10 years, 14 of 14 precincts, 586 Yes (59 percent), 412 No (41 percent).
—Consolidated School District No. 3: 12 mills – 10 years, 24 of 24 precincts, 622 Yes (56 percent), 485 No (44 percent).
—Sixth Ward Special School District No. 3: 11.75 mills – 10 years, 14 of 14 precincts, 322 Yes (61 percent), 203 No (39 percent).
—Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 2: 2.5 mills – 10 years, 12 of 12 precincts, 294 Yes (61 percent), 189 No (39 percent).
—Waterworks District No. 5: 4.60 mills –10 years, 11 of 11 precincts, 225 Yes (63 percent), 131 No (37 percent).
—Ward 4 Fire Protection Dist. No. 2: 4 mills – 10 years, six of six precincts, 146 Yes (67 percent), 71 No (33 percent).
—Sewerage District No. 8: 6.44 mills –10 years, six of six precincts, 86 Yes (66 percent), 45 No (34 percent).
—Mosquito Control District No. 1: 7.19 mills – 5 years, one of one precinct, 33 Yes (94 percent), 2 No (6 percent).

This story was written by Bill Decker of The Daily Review staff. Reach him at bdecker@daily-review.com.