In Berwick, some pay double tax for parks

BERWICK — City Council members heard Tuesday that some Old Spanish Trail residents are being taxed twice for the same government service.
Old Spanish Trail residents are paying property taxes for Recreation District 3, which is in Bayou Vista, and Berwick property taxes, some portion of which pay for parks and recreation.
District 3’s tax is 8.78 mills. Berwick residents pay 18.12 mills, council member Greg Roussel said.
The existing bonded indebtedness does not allow for boundary lines to be redrawn until 2025.
“[The] parish council should’ve told them,” said Councilman Duval Arthur. “We need to do something to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
During the 2010 election, 121 voted for and 103 against a bond issue of $700,000 for Bayou Vista Recreation District 3. However, 27 registered voters residing along the Old Spanish Trail did not vote on the millage for the Bayou Vista Recreation District 3.
They were unaware at the time, Roussel said.
Two residents approached Roussel about the double taxation.
Council members want to make the public aware that the Old Spanish Trail residents are paying extra taxes.
Roussel has been consulting with bond attorneys for solutions. There are not many options to rectify the problem.
If a millage increase occurs in Bayou Vista Recreation District 3 as a result of November’s election, Old Spanish Trail residents will pay more money.
The maximum legal millage rate in Recreation District 3 is 9 mills.

This story was written by Shea Drake of The Daily Review staff. Reach her at sdrake@daily-review.com