Opelousas keeps 7.13 mill property rate; council schedules special meeting on proposed 1% sales tax

The Opelousas City Council adopted the general alimony millage rate for tax year 2025 at 7.13 mills on May 13 and moved on separate steps related to a proposed 1% sales and use tax.

Madam Clerk read the millage resolution and the council voted to set the city’s property tax rate at 7.13 mills, which the clerk said was the city’s maximum millage after a roll‑forward adjustment. The vote produced a resolution (listed in the meeting record as Resolution No. 6 of 2025) and passed on a recorded vote as read into the minutes.

Separately, the mayor and council announced a special meeting for May 22 to consider adopting a resolution calling an election on a one‑percent sales and use tax to be placed before voters on Aug. 16, 2025. Council members urged public attention to the upcoming vote: Alderman Marvin Richard and other members spoke in favor of putting the question to voters, saying the tax proceeds would fund the city’s operations and services. The mayor and others framed the proposal as necessary to avoid future cuts and to maintain services for police, firefighters and city operations; a council member said the state Senate had passed related enabling action 38-0 on the day of the meeting.

Why it matters: Adopting the millage rate is an annual legal requirement for property tax collection. The proposed sales and use tax would, if approved by voters, add a revenue stream that council members said they expect to support operational needs; the council scheduled the procedural step (a special meeting) to place the measure on the August ballot.