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Committee splits on St. George constitutional amendment; bill advances after roll call
Summary
Senate Bill 25, a constitutional amendment to grant St. George city the authority to operate its own school system, was reported favorable by the committee after debate and a roll‑call vote with objections. Opponents urged deferral until a companion bill clarifying governance and fiscal impacts is finalized.
Senate Bill 25, a constitutional amendment authorizing the St. George City School System to exercise the same taxing and operating powers as parish school boards, was reported favorable by the House Appropriations Committee after a contentious hearing and a roll‑call vote on May 20.
Sponsor testimony emphasized the committee was reviewing the bill’s fiscal aspects (the committee’s subject matter) and not debating the political merits of creating a separate school district. Committee testimony and public commenters, including local residents and the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board president, urged the committee to defer the amendment until its companion bill that sets governance and implementation details is completed and its fiscal implications are clear.
Testimony presented two fiscal contexts: an original fiscal note tied to a standalone November election was estimated at about $3.2 million for an election cost; sponsors said moving the election to an April statewide election removed that immediate election cost. Witnesses opposed to the measure said the longer‑term fiscal impact on the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) is indeterminate but could require the state to make up roughly $2.4 million annually in the model presented to the committee if a local carve‑out reduces parish tax base and students for MFP calculations.
Public commenters included current and former East Baton Rouge students and residents who spoke both for and against the amendment. Opponents repeatedly asked that Senate Bill 25 be deferred pending completion of Senate Bill 234 (the companion implementation/gov bill), citing lack of a final plan for governance, millage caps, transition agreements with the parish school system and explicit start‑up budgets.
Representative Horton moved the bill favorable; Representative Marcel objected, triggering a roll‑call vote. The committee recorded 15 yeas and 2 nays and reported the measure favorable to the next stage. Several opponents said they intend to continue public outreach and, if the measure proceeds to a public referendum, to present fiscal details to voters.
