- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Can the Baton Rouge region become more economically competitive with St. George?
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:21 am
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:21 am
Right now, the city/parish has a good credit rating and sees regular net positive (if low) growth. That growth seems to be largely concentrated in areas where there's space to build/expand - Zachary, Central, and unincorporated East Baton Rouge. In the future, a big part of the unincorporated area that sees that growth will be in another city but still within East Baton Rouge- St. George.
If the city/parish can expand on the successful redevelopment of the downtown business district AND St. George can establish a successful and competitive school district, would the capital area be more economically competitive?
All things being equal, an attractive and affordable place to live with good public services (in particular, good schools) closer to the major employment centers would certainly help indirectly fight the sprawl that seems to move farther and farther down I-12 and I-10.
Would a good St. George school district also make the Baton Rouge area more economically competitive for corporate re-locations - especially if the city of Baton Rouge can continue building on their successful redevelopment of downtown and if LSU improves itself?
If the city/parish can expand on the successful redevelopment of the downtown business district AND St. George can establish a successful and competitive school district, would the capital area be more economically competitive?
All things being equal, an attractive and affordable place to live with good public services (in particular, good schools) closer to the major employment centers would certainly help indirectly fight the sprawl that seems to move farther and farther down I-12 and I-10.
Would a good St. George school district also make the Baton Rouge area more economically competitive for corporate re-locations - especially if the city of Baton Rouge can continue building on their successful redevelopment of downtown and if LSU improves itself?
6
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:25 am to member12
Pretty sure quite the opposite is going to happen.
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:28 am to member12
if the crybabies in BR city government would think about growth instead of abstract concepts like equity, yes. the BR area would finally have a place where people can send their kids to public school (eventually). that alone would be a major positive for EBR. you're never going to be a place companies will locate under the current paradigm
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:28 am to LSUTigerFan247
quote:
Pretty sure quite the opposite is going to happen.
You think that the establishment of St George is going to make the region less economically competitive?
Why?
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:28 am to LSUTigerFan247
quote:
Pretty sure quite the opposite is going to happen.
How so?
In theory, a large part of East Baton Rouge potentially becoming more attractive to middle class homebuyers would be a good thing for the area. St. George is much closer to the major employers than Gonzales or Watson are.
It's very important that Baton Rouge figure out how to sustain itself moving forward though. It benefits no one in the region if it spends itself into oblivion and raises taxes constantly.
This post was edited on 10/14/19 at 9:30 am
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:32 am to member12
Can it? Yes.
Will it? Not with the current leadership in Baton Rouge.
There are a number of factors screwing EBR as a whole, which also affects neighboring parishes.
1. Schools - The horrid state of EBRPSS means that a lot of new businesses are hesitant to move to BR or, if they do, they specifically tell their employees with families to move to Zachary, Central, Livingston, or Ascension.
Fixing BR schools to where they are competent alleviates a lot of the issues.
2. Legal environment - As a post in the last week or two showed, Louisiana is near the bottom of national rankings for legal environment along with California, Illinois, and Mississippi, and they don’t have the economic powerhouses that California and Illinois have to offset those issues.
There are limits as to what can be done about this at the local level other than electing better judges or trying to retrain the population that the first step in an accident isn’t One Call That’s All.
3. Taxes - This is the big one because sales taxes in BR are among the highest in the nation thanks to the permanent tax increase pushed by JBE a few years back.
High sales tax combined with taxes on everything else make it hard to stay profitable enough to remain in BR.
This is a mix of state and local, though, as a good chunk of the problem is the high state sales tax in addition to other taxes like on inventory. The locals could help fix this through reforming taxes and cutting spending but it ain’t gonna happen.
Will it? Not with the current leadership in Baton Rouge.
There are a number of factors screwing EBR as a whole, which also affects neighboring parishes.
1. Schools - The horrid state of EBRPSS means that a lot of new businesses are hesitant to move to BR or, if they do, they specifically tell their employees with families to move to Zachary, Central, Livingston, or Ascension.
Fixing BR schools to where they are competent alleviates a lot of the issues.
2. Legal environment - As a post in the last week or two showed, Louisiana is near the bottom of national rankings for legal environment along with California, Illinois, and Mississippi, and they don’t have the economic powerhouses that California and Illinois have to offset those issues.
There are limits as to what can be done about this at the local level other than electing better judges or trying to retrain the population that the first step in an accident isn’t One Call That’s All.
3. Taxes - This is the big one because sales taxes in BR are among the highest in the nation thanks to the permanent tax increase pushed by JBE a few years back.
High sales tax combined with taxes on everything else make it hard to stay profitable enough to remain in BR.
This is a mix of state and local, though, as a good chunk of the problem is the high state sales tax in addition to other taxes like on inventory. The locals could help fix this through reforming taxes and cutting spending but it ain’t gonna happen.
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:33 am to SlowFlowPro
Yep. As a resident of Baton Rouge and someone who supported St. George, I believe that if the City-Parish government and the newly formed City of St. George leadership actually remain professional and regional-focused...we'll be successful.
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:33 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
that alone would be a major positive for EBR. you're never going to be a place companies will locate under the current paradigm
That's my thinking. If the St. George city school district can get off the ground and put itself on a competitive path.....this could be a HUGE positive for East Baton Rouge and the entire capital area as a whole.
Even if the state of Louisiana continues to flounder, keeping more middle class people closer to the major employers instead of pushing them out towards the far ends of the metro area is a net positive.
Maybe the Baton Rouge region can position itself as a decent alternative for corporate re-locations with a competitive school district a stone's throw away from the major white collar business centers on Essen, Bluebonnet, etc.
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:36 am to Golfer
quote:
Yep. As a resident of Baton Rouge and someone who supported St. George, I believe that if the City-Parish government and the newly formed City of St. George leadership actually remain professional and regional-focused...we'll be successful.
I think everyone needs to put aside their bullshite and be focused on growth, drainage, business climate, and traffic issues. All cities/parishes need to be doing what they can to improve things that contribute to sustained success in those areas.
That includes politicians in Livingston, Ascension, and West Baton Rouge too.
This post was edited on 10/14/19 at 9:38 am
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:37 am to member12
quote:
I think everyone needs to put aside their bullshite and be focused on growth, drainage, business climate, and traffic.
That includes politicians in Livingston, Ascension, and West Baton Rouge too.
This and then the better school system. We need to become a more attractive city to move to/live in to keep growing as a city. The focus needs to be on the things that will enhance the quality of life.
This post was edited on 10/14/19 at 9:38 am
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:39 am to member12
quote:
That includes politicians in Livingston, Ascension, and West Baton Rouge too.
And Iberville
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:41 am to member12
quote:
Can the Baton Rouge region become more economically competitive with St. George?
Right now, the city/parish has a good credit rating and sees regular net positive (if low) growth. That growth seems to be largely concentrated in areas where there's space to build/expand - Zachary, Central, and unincorporated East Baton Rouge. In the future, a big part of the unincorporated area that sees that growth will be in another city but still within East Baton Rouge- St. George.
If the city/parish can expand on the successful redevelopment of the downtown business district AND St. George can establish a successful and competitive school district, would the capital area be more economically competitive?
All things being equal, an attractive and affordable place to live with good public services (in particular, good schools) closer to the major employment centers would certainly help indirectly fight the sprawl that seems to move farther and farther down I-12 and I-10.
Would a good St. George school district also make the Baton Rouge area more economically competitive for corporate re-locations - especially if the city of Baton Rouge can continue building on their successful redevelopment of downtown and if LSU improves itself?
I have have beaten this drum over and over.
EBR can prosper if SG prospers.It's not one or the other.
I wish BR the best. I wish SG the best. Central, Baker and Zachary too.
Our consolidated system of govt. has us all in the same boat. Yes, we sleep in different cabins, but most of our local services come from the same kitchen.
Schools is where the biggest difference will be IF the SG ISD comes to pass. But school systems can and do thrive if left alone. That will be the key.
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:44 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
if the crybabies in BR city government would think about growth instead of abstract concepts like equity, yes. the BR area would finally have a place where people can send their kids to public school (eventually). that alone would be a major positive for EBR. you're never going to be a place companies will locate under the current paradigm
Exactly. Having a great public school to send kids will attract and keep great jobs in Baton Rouge.
No one wants to move to Baton Rouge and join the political/popularity contest catholic/private schools. No one wants to battle for magnet school spots. Many people just want to quietly raise their kids. Without good public schools you cannot do that.
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:45 am to doubleb
One thing that will be key is for the various cities to act with a regional focus from a growth standpoint and a business development/attraction standpoint.
Don't start offering TIFs to Walmart to get them to relocate from St George to Baton Rouge or vice versa. Focus on getting businesses to move to the region as a whole and not just your specific fiefdom.
It seems counterintuitive that creating a new city within the region would help with regional cohesion, but it's a rare opportunity to breathe life into a stagnant area with new leadership.
Don't start offering TIFs to Walmart to get them to relocate from St George to Baton Rouge or vice versa. Focus on getting businesses to move to the region as a whole and not just your specific fiefdom.
It seems counterintuitive that creating a new city within the region would help with regional cohesion, but it's a rare opportunity to breathe life into a stagnant area with new leadership.
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:47 am to teke184
4. Traffic - Need a metro wide cooperative effort to finally create a loop and improve traffic in the city.
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:47 am to ProjectP2294
quote:
You think that the establishment of St George is going to make the region less economically competitive?
Why?
It doesn't matter how successful or appealing St. George is, with the current leadership of Baton Rouge, nothing good is going to happen. The mayor's first 2 actions were to appoint Silky Slim to the board of Law Enforcement oversight (or something like that) and hold Malcolm X day. Do you really think this woman is going to be able to move Baton Rouge forward? Get some good leadership in that's willing to work with the entire parish and not just cater to NBR, then get back with.
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:48 am to ProjectP2294
I don’t see St George offering incentives to get businesses to move.
I can’t say the same thing about BR because they are going to get desperate for tax revenue.
I can’t say the same thing about BR because they are going to get desperate for tax revenue.
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:48 am to MrJimBeam
quote:
We need to become a more attractive city to move to/live in to keep growing as a city. The focus needs to be on the things that will enhance the quality of life.
This will never happen with the "Whats in it for ME" attitudes of 90% of Louisiana politicians. Or at least the ones around the Capital City.
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:50 am to teke184
quote:
I can’t say the same thing about BR because they are going to get desperate for tax revenue.
It's the kind of regional cannibalization that's held St Louis back for a while now.
Posted on 10/14/19 at 9:51 am to LSUBoo
While it deserves to be on the list, that one will take an Act Of God to pull off.
Page 1 of 4
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News