Harlan Kirgan
St. Landry Parish Government leaders are stressing that renewing a 1-mill, 10-year jail maintenance tax is crucial at Saturday’s election.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The proposition on the ballot states the tax is expected to raise $671,000 a year and is dedicated to operating and maintaining the parish jail that holds up to 232 prisoners.
“We need to make people realize how important this tax is for the jail,” said Coby Clavier, of Eunice, who serves as the St. Landry Parish Council chairman.
“It is not a new tax. It is a renewal,” he said.
If the tax fails, the Parish Council would be forced to dip into its road and bridge fund to pay for the jail expenses, he said.
“It failed already ... which is kind of scary,” Clavier said.
The jail tax renewal failed in a November 2019 election with 53% of the 25,970 voters casting “No” votes.
“A lot of people don’t realize the parish government is the responsible party to manage this jail,” he said.
Parish President Jessie Bellard has explained that parish government is mandated to pay for the jail expenses, but is not required by law to pay for road maintenance.
Parish government budgets 55% of the $1.2 million in revenue from Evangeline Downs for roads, bridges and maintenance.
Cheryl Milburn predicts turnout for Saturday’s election will be no more than 30% of the voters.
At the end of early voting on Nov. 28, there were 88 votes cast at the Eunice poll and 334 at Opelousas. Total votes cast in St. Landry Parish as of Monday were 1,251.
Ballot items in St. Landry Parish include a runoff for the 5th Congressional District between Republicans Lance Harris and Luke Letlow.
The other election involving candidates is for a seat on the 22nd Senatorial District, Division A, Republican State Central Committee. Candidates are Jamie Huval and Rose Knott.
Other issues on the ballot include the following.
— A constitutional amendment to allow the governor to appoint a person who resides out-of-state to serve as an at-large member of a public postsecondary education board of supervisors?
— Shall Bayou Plaquemine Gravity Drainage District No. 12 renew the levy of a consolidated special tax of 20 mills on all property subject to taxation within the District for a period of 10 years, beginning with 2022 and ending 2031, having an estimated annual collection of $200,000 for constructing, maintaining and operating gravity drainage works within and for said District?