The Eunice city millage rates are too little to meet the needs of the community, said Jack Burson, outgoing alderman at large, at Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen’s meeting.
“Since I’m not running for re-election, I would be a good one to make the comment at this point. I think that our people at some point need to face reality.
“I’ve been on this council 24 years. We have never raised the salaries of councilmen. Not one penny, which is good. I’m glad. That’s proper conservative government. What is not proper conservative government is to let your streets, particularly in the old part of town, fall apart because you’ve got too little millage.”
Burson spoke after aldermen approved renewing millages of 6.77 for general alimony and 5 for streets. The audit for the year ending June 30, 2016, shows the city received about $1.5 million in property taxes. The city collected about $5.2 million in sales tax revenue.
Burson said, “I think we need as a community to face reality. I’m not saying we need to go crazy with it, but I look at Crowley.”
About 10 years ago Crowley voters approved a tax to fund a 15-year bond to pave all of its streets, he said.
But Crowley’s millage rate is more than 30 as is the rate in many cities similar in size to Eunice, he said.
Eunice citizens could approve 6 or 7 mills to fund a 10- to 15-year bond to find street improvements, he said. That money would be added to the $1 million in street improvements done every other year with sales tax money, he said.
“Go to Opelousas and see what happened when you totally neglect your streets for 20 or 30 years,” he said.
Couple neglected streets with dilapidated buildings and a community declines, he said.
“I’ve been thinking those thoughts for a long time,” Burson said.
Mayor Scott Fontenot said Karl Aucoin, city engineer, has been consulting with aldermen about road needs in their districts and should have a plan for the $1 million summer overlay program.
The city also has a $460,000 grant to do street work in the Happy Hill area, Fontenot said. That work is planned to follow the city-funded paving, he said.
Other business at Tuesday’s meeting included:
— Delaying condemnation of the 411 S. CC Duson property.
— Approving show cause hearings for 720 and 730 Carron Street, and 451 N. Beulah St.
— Delaying a condemnation hearing for 1050 Faris Ave. property until the May meeting.
— Allowing the mayor to proceed with roof repairs at city buildings.
— Approved an ordinance to charge a $1 per page copy fee for public records. Officers or employees of the city are exempt when performing official duties.
— Allowed Police Chief Randy Fontenot to proceed with the lease-purchase of five patrol vehicles.
