re: Stolen from OT. St George submits petition.

quote:

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It should be evident that the taxes generated outside the city of Baton Rouge are being used to benefit the residents of Baton Rouge to a much greater extent than the taxes generated within Baton Rouge are being used to benefit those living outside Baton Rouge. Unless the residents of Baton Rouge use common services at a much lower rate than non-residents of Baton Rouge. And we know that is just not the case.

Just the DPW spends more than $16.8 million for services inside of Baton Rouge. The DPW plans to spend $47.3 million in 2014. If the spending is allocated per capita, then the spending inside Baton Rouge will be greater than 50% since Baton Rouge residents make up greater than 50% of the parish population

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But the city-limits were artificially constrained. Since the city, for most part, got the benefit of the funds outside the city limits, there was no need to annex. If you want things to be (mostly) equitable, then the city can just annex the revenue producers and "ta-dah!" your concern goes away.

The only negative by-product is higher taxes, but some of that is balanced against a better fire rating.

There is no unfairness in the current system. Only if you really think the revenue generated by the Mall and the casino "belong" to St. George/the parish in some existential sense is there any unfairness at all.