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Message
re: Louisiana, it's time for a new constitution l Small towns are dead
Posted on 4/11/20 at 11:10 pm to Kafka
Posted on 4/11/20 at 11:10 pm to Kafka
What's the purpose of this entire exercise again? I'm starting to suspect that I may be wrong about this, but aren't state fund allocations to parishes likely based on population? Probably very similar to the federal/state relationship in that regard? Clearly state legislature seats for a given district are allocated by population, so I have to assume funding allocation is a similar set up.
In such a case, wouldn't merging any parishes together simply role over the same amount of funding the old parish received into the new combined parish?? Sorta a "6 of one, half dozen of another" situation. What's the benefit here?
In such a case, wouldn't merging any parishes together simply role over the same amount of funding the old parish received into the new combined parish?? Sorta a "6 of one, half dozen of another" situation. What's the benefit here?
1
Posted on 4/11/20 at 11:11 pm to SlowFlowPro
Combining Parishes ain’t never happening, at least not on a large scale. Switching the tax structure from sale & income to property would radically change our government. The ups and downs in state revenue would be a thing of the past, it becomes MUCH easier to estimate revenue for budgeting. Plus, it isn’t as vulnerable to disaster type stuff like we seem to go through every 5 years or so.
Posted on 4/11/20 at 11:16 pm to Mahootney
I'm a conservative who spent his first 18 years of life in a small town in Louisiana and I agree with this.
Another thing this article lay outs that is spot on is there's a lot of corruption in these small towns. Same reason I hate unions, too much corruption and administrators getting paid way too much.
Another thing this article lay outs that is spot on is there's a lot of corruption in these small towns. Same reason I hate unions, too much corruption and administrators getting paid way too much.
Posted on 4/11/20 at 11:20 pm to OleWar
thats wild
Posted on 4/11/20 at 11:20 pm to Diastrophus
I don't think anyone is able to explain how this would save the state any money. I guess it would result in a cleaner looking map? As for the small town corruption....are the small town being erased as well, as opposed to simply being part of a different parish? Seems a bit draconian. 
Posted on 4/11/20 at 11:23 pm to davyjones
quote:Let me preface my remarks by saying I don't know diddley shite about this subject
What's the purpose of this entire exercise again? I'm starting to suspect that I may be wrong about this, but aren't state fund allocations to parishes likely based on population? Probably very similar to the federal/state relationship in that regard? Clearly state legislature seats for a given district are allocated by population, so I have to assume funding allocation is a similar set up.
In such a case, wouldn't merging any parishes together simply role over the same amount of funding the old parish received into the new combined parish?? Sorta a "6 of one, half dozen of another" situation. What's the benefit here?
But consolidation always makes things cheaper, if only b/c the bureaucracy is (theoretically anyway) smaller.
Let me pivot to a subject I do know a little about. Do you know why half hour dramas died in TV? It's b/c it's 30% cheaper to produce one hour long drama than two half hours. That's 30% more money going into the network/studio/producers' pockets.
Think of how much money the state would save by not having any parishes at all. Or only 10-12, as somebody suggested. But is that the kind of gov't you want?
Posted on 4/11/20 at 11:34 pm to Kafka
I think it could perhaps save the local governments money of they studied a possible merger and identified ways to save and all involved benefit equally. But that would seem more a local matter to decide, not state level.
But as far as state money, if the state allocates money based on population, say in the example of one sole state parish....the entire population being consolidated into one entity, wouldn't that one entity simply receive the sum total of all state allocations to all former parishes? The amount doesn't change, it's just not divvied up. State would advise the new single parish the same way it advised the former individual parishes...."use it wisely because that's all you get."
I think the locally centric govt run by locally elected officials regime, as well as plain ole history and tradition, would prevail in the public sentiment. As opposed to being convinced that these mergers will be so financially beneficial that each citizen will experience a benefit. Cost seems to outweigh the benefit.
ETA....and I don't know much about the subject either. Pretty much talking outta my arse.
But as far as state money, if the state allocates money based on population, say in the example of one sole state parish....the entire population being consolidated into one entity, wouldn't that one entity simply receive the sum total of all state allocations to all former parishes? The amount doesn't change, it's just not divvied up. State would advise the new single parish the same way it advised the former individual parishes...."use it wisely because that's all you get."
I think the locally centric govt run by locally elected officials regime, as well as plain ole history and tradition, would prevail in the public sentiment. As opposed to being convinced that these mergers will be so financially beneficial that each citizen will experience a benefit. Cost seems to outweigh the benefit.
ETA....and I don't know much about the subject either. Pretty much talking outta my arse.
This post was edited on 4/11/20 at 11:40 pm
Posted on 4/11/20 at 11:55 pm to SlowFlowPro
As a Natchitoches resident for 5 years now, it’s hilarious seeing the different factions fight for power b/t the City and Parish governments.
We have a city council woman who won re election after getting caught stealing perfume from Walmart, roads that destroy your car, yet have a library with $4 million dollars in excess funding, and schools that swear they’ll get better if only they had a “little more money”
We have a city council woman who won re election after getting caught stealing perfume from Walmart, roads that destroy your car, yet have a library with $4 million dollars in excess funding, and schools that swear they’ll get better if only they had a “little more money”
Posted on 4/12/20 at 12:03 am to BlueWaffleHouse
quote:
We have a city council woman who won re election after getting caught stealing perfume from Walmart, roads that destroy your car, yet have a library with $4 million dollars in excess funding, and schools that swear they’ll get better if only they had a “little more money”
I still can’t figure out why this state spends so much money on libraries
As far as public education funding, you would think there would be some standard for how much money should be spent per student to administer a good education.
Posted on 4/12/20 at 12:27 am to cssamerican
quote:
I still can’t figure out why this state spends so much money on libraries
I'm sure if you looked into it you'd find there are matching federal funds or federal grants that contribute significantly. Damn Louisiana can't win for trying.....run down library, that's Louisiana for you. Really nice library, that's too good for Louisiana.
quote:
As far as public education funding, you would think there would be some standard for how much money should be spent per student to administer a good education.
I'm pretty dang sure there are such standards.
And I don't mean to come off as a jackass, it just seems to me that one of Louisiana's most significant problems is a lack of pride in the state and a imbalanced effort by her citizens to first find her flaws. Hell, I'm sure the thought of being a citizen of a worldwide respected city like Chicago would sound exciting....but who amongst us would have an immediate thought that "I'm quite optimistic about the idea of sending my third grader through the City of Chicago public achool system??
Posted on 4/12/20 at 12:42 am to uway
quote:
People have a right to form small towns and villages and make rules within the limits, and it Trump's your right to occasionally pass through them without slowing down.
Except for the fact the rest of the taxpayers of the Parish and State have to absorb the debt and expend money and resources when said unneeded municipality runs up debt and can't pay it off.
If a municipality gets in that situation it frankly shouldn't have a right to keep making the fiscal situation worse. A lot of small municipalities could be better served by replacing local government with a special district to continue providing utilities and services without unnecessary administration costs that come from to running a municipality.
In the words of former Rep. Steve Pylant, "If you want to play town, go buy a Monopoly set."
Posted on 4/12/20 at 12:46 am to Mahootney
quote:
Outside of nostalgia, how many parishes are really needed?
Don't get rid of Calcasieu or Cameron parishes. I grew up in one and duck hunted in the other. I'd be devastated if those went away. And Lake Charles should get a piece of the redistricted prize more than Monroe should. Shreveport should get Monroe.
Posted on 4/12/20 at 12:49 am to SlowFlowPro
Um no thanks, we don’t have leadership capable of doing this correctly.
Posted on 4/12/20 at 12:50 am to aTmTexas Dillo
I say let's bring back Imperial Calcasieu!
Posted on 4/12/20 at 1:02 am to LSULaw2009
quote:
I say let's bring back Imperial Calcasieu!
I think I know what that is.
Is that Calcasieu + Beauregard = Imperial Calcasieu
Or does that also add a little of Cameron and JeffDavis?
Posted on 4/12/20 at 1:07 am to Mahootney
I think we could easily cut down from 64 parishes to more like 40-something.
Here's my plan:
Merge the following combos of parishes:
Desoto and Sabine with Parish seat in Mansfield
Red River and Nachitoches with Parish seat in Nachitoches
Webster, Bienville, and Claiborne with Parish seat in Minden
Lincoln and Union with Parish seat in Ruston
East and West Carrol with Parish seat in Lake Providence
Morehouse and Richland with Parish seat in Bastrop
Madison, Tensas, and Franklin with Parish seat in Winnsboro
Catahoula and Concordia with Parish seat in Vidalia
Columbia, Caldwell, and LeSalle with Parish seat in Jena
Jackson, Winn and Grant with Parish seat in Winnfield
Allen and Evangeline with Parish seat in Ville Platte
Iberville and West Baton Rouge with parish seat in Plaquemine.
St. James, St. John the Baptist, and St. Charles with Parish seat in Laplace
St. Helena and West Feliciana with Parish Seat in Clinton
That would cut down the number of parishes by 19 down to 45. That's massive savings in reduction of duplication of effort in unnecessary sheriffs offices, courthouses, etc.
I also believe that Grande Isle should be in Lafouche Parish instead of Jefferson Parish, and that St. Gabriel should probably be in Ascension Parish.
Here's my plan:
Merge the following combos of parishes:
Desoto and Sabine with Parish seat in Mansfield
Red River and Nachitoches with Parish seat in Nachitoches
Webster, Bienville, and Claiborne with Parish seat in Minden
Lincoln and Union with Parish seat in Ruston
East and West Carrol with Parish seat in Lake Providence
Morehouse and Richland with Parish seat in Bastrop
Madison, Tensas, and Franklin with Parish seat in Winnsboro
Catahoula and Concordia with Parish seat in Vidalia
Columbia, Caldwell, and LeSalle with Parish seat in Jena
Jackson, Winn and Grant with Parish seat in Winnfield
Allen and Evangeline with Parish seat in Ville Platte
Iberville and West Baton Rouge with parish seat in Plaquemine.
St. James, St. John the Baptist, and St. Charles with Parish seat in Laplace
St. Helena and West Feliciana with Parish Seat in Clinton
That would cut down the number of parishes by 19 down to 45. That's massive savings in reduction of duplication of effort in unnecessary sheriffs offices, courthouses, etc.
I also believe that Grande Isle should be in Lafouche Parish instead of Jefferson Parish, and that St. Gabriel should probably be in Ascension Parish.
This post was edited on 4/12/20 at 1:28 am
Posted on 4/12/20 at 1:09 am to LSULaw2009
So your suggestion is to go ahead and preempt what you believe to be a foregone conclusion that all small towns in Louisiana will irresponsibly render themselves bankrupt? Go on and turn the lights out on them and order up revised State of Louisiana maps?
Or instead deal with them as any such instance arises? Because I'm pretty sure that the already the process as it stands now. Communities incorporate, unincorporate, reach agreements with nearby municipalities for purposes of incorporating into the nearby larger municipality, etc.
And I would have to hear of an example of state taxpayers propping up a bankrupt small Louisiana town. I'm just not seeing it. What I do see, however, are many small towns that have gone the way of the ghost town due to either mismanagement or simply that the required tax base just isn't there anymore. They sure don't look like the state's come in and bailed them out. They instead appear to be on their way out completely or maintaining a very meager status quo. But I will take my lumps should there be any examples of currently state funded small towns shown.
Or instead deal with them as any such instance arises? Because I'm pretty sure that the already the process as it stands now. Communities incorporate, unincorporate, reach agreements with nearby municipalities for purposes of incorporating into the nearby larger municipality, etc.
And I would have to hear of an example of state taxpayers propping up a bankrupt small Louisiana town. I'm just not seeing it. What I do see, however, are many small towns that have gone the way of the ghost town due to either mismanagement or simply that the required tax base just isn't there anymore. They sure don't look like the state's come in and bailed them out. They instead appear to be on their way out completely or maintaining a very meager status quo. But I will take my lumps should there be any examples of currently state funded small towns shown.
Posted on 4/12/20 at 1:11 am to kingbob
quote:hell Nach is damn near as big as Rhode Island already
Red River and Nachitoches with Parish seat in Nachitoches
Posted on 4/12/20 at 1:12 am to davyjones
quote:
So your suggestion is to go ahead and preempt what you believe to be a foregone conclusion that all small towns in Louisiana will irresponsibly render themselves bankrupt?
A massive number of small towns in this state are already bankrupt. Many subsist almost entirely on state revenue and speeding tickets. There's no tax base in these towns, there's barely any population, there's no industry, why are we paying for an extra layer of police forces, mayors, judges, etc when there's no demand or means to pay for services?
In addition, we could save a lot of money by reducing the numbers of parishes and judicial districts.
Posted on 4/12/20 at 1:21 am to kingbob
You have my respect! Run for political office but disguise your intentions until after you are elected. An analogy in Texas would be to reduce the Independent School Districts. So a small County like Orange has at least three separate school districts with three superintendents. There should be one in the County. Ain't gonna happen. Nobody cedes political power.
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