Would you support this tax swap?

In March, voters in Lafourche Parish will head to the polls to vote a few tax swap proposals that could add fees to portions of Lafourche and reduce the garbage sales tax in order to allow the school board to add sales taxes to increase teacher pay. There also a few other mileage reductions in order to add more taxes to compensate for the reductions. There are 6 measures on the ballot to make this work.

Measure 1:

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Shall the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana (the "Parish") be authorized to replace and reduce the levy of a special tax approved by voters on November 18, 2017 currently being levied at the rate of 5.41 mills to the reduced rate of 3.64 mills (the "Reduced Tax") on all the property subject to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $3,500,000.00 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Reduced Tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2023 and ending with the year 2032, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining, operating and/or supporting public facilities, works and/or improvements in the Parish, including equipment, furnishings and supplies, for the following purposes in the following percentages: 1) 73% - public health, including public health units, buildings, services and activities and senior citizen programs and services, and public buildings (other than library facilities), provided, however, at least one-half (1/2) of said percentage shall be budgeted for public health purposes; and 2) 27% - library facilities?

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Measure 2:

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Shall the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana (the "Parish") be authorized to levy a special tax of 8.00 mills (the "Tax") in lieu of the 3.34 mill tax approved by voters on December 6, 2014 and currently being levied by the Parish, on all property subject to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $7,800,000.00 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning in 2023 and ending in 2032, for the purposes of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and operating drainage works and roads in the Parish, including the acquisition, operation and maintenance of vehicles, machinery and equipment and the costs of salaries related thereto, such levy of the Tax to be conditioned upon the discontinued levy of the following taxes: 1) the 0.90 mill tax authorized by voters on November 21, 2015 currently levied by Drainage District No. 1; 2) the 4.62 mill tax authorized by voters on November 18, 2017 currently levied by Fifth Ward Gravity Drainage District No. 5; and 3) the 5.00 mill tax authorized by voters on November 18, 2017 currently levied by Road District No. 1?

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Measure 3:

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Shall Consolidated School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana (the "District"), be authorized to rededicate and extend the levy and collection of a special tax of four (4) mills (the "Tax") originally approved by voters on May 2, 2015 on all property subject to taxation within the District (an estimated $3,750,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2023 and ending with the year 2032, for the purpose of providing additional support to public elementary and secondary schools in the District, in particular to fund salaries and benefits of employees in the public school system within the parishwide jurisdiction of the District and to fund the District's comprehensive safety and security program for students and staff (including, but not limited to, creating single-point entry at schools, additional security cameras, alarm systems, capital improvements and School Resource Officers, and staff to address bullying/cyberbullying and student/related services)?

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Measure 4:

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Shall the Lafourche Parish School Board (the "School Board"), be authorized to levy and collect a sales and use tax of 0.40% (the "Tax") in accordance with Louisiana law, commencing July 1, 2023 and continuing in perpetuity (an estimated $7,000,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from levy of the Tax for an entire year), with the proceeds of the Tax to be dedicated and used solely to fund salaries and benefits for employees of the School Board, such authorization to be contingent upon voter approval of the 0.30% reduced sales and use tax proposition of Sales Tax District No. 4 of the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana, presented contemporaneously herewith?

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Measure 5: (Voted on Outside the City of Thibodaux)

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Shall Road Sales Tax District of the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana (the "District") be authorized to levy and collect a sales and use tax of 0.50% within the District (the "Tax") for a period of twenty (20) years, commencing October 1, 2023 (an estimated $6,200,000.00 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from levy of the Tax for an entire year), with the proceeds of the Tax to be dedicated and used for the purposes of constructing, improving, and/or maintaining public roads, bridges and drainage works in the District and for funding the proceeds of the Tax into bonds to be issued for any of the aforesaid purposes, including refinancing outstanding debt of Consolidated Sales Tax District A and Road District #2 (collectively, the "Underlying Districts"), said Tax shall be levied in lieu of all sales and use taxes currently levied by the Underlying Districts and shall be contingent upon voter approval of the Sales Tax District No. 4 0.3% reduced sales and use tax proposition presented contemporaneously herewith?

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Measure 6: (Voted on Outside the City of Thibodaux)

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Shall Sales Tax District No. 4 of the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana (the "District") be authorized to levy and collect a reduced 0.30% sales and use tax within the District (the "Reduced Tax") commencing October 1, 2023, in lieu of the 1.00% sales and use tax authorized in perpetuity by the District's voters on September 27, 1986 and currently being levied at the rate of 0.70% (an estimated $4,400,000.00 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from levy of the Reduced Tax for an entire year), where said Reduced Tax would continue to be levied in perpetuity, the proceeds of the Reduced Tax to be dedicated and used to pay the cost of constructing, acquiring, maintaining, and operating solid waste collection and disposal facilities and closing garbage dumps in the District, and for funding the proceeds into bonds issued for any of the aforesaid purposes, and where levy of the Reduced Tax shall be contingent upon voter approval of the Lafourche Parish School Board 0.4% sales and use tax proposition presented contemporaneously herewith?

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Not much is being said about this upcoming tax. I did see some poorly hand made signs telling me to vote no, and a 16 dollar garbage fee coming.

I believe there are too many ballot measures to accomplish one goal. The only other thing on the Ballot is a Port Commissioner race to fill a vacant term.

I am also against consolidating road sales tax districts. My chief complaint is that the City of Thibodaux has a majority of all the commercial businesses within the city limits, and collects sales taxes from residents outside the city limits since they are forced to shop in the city, and the tax revenue that is collected only benefits the city of Thibodaux and not the area around it.