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Committee introduces ordinance to authorize up to $25 million in sales‑tax revenue bonds; chair says no new tax planned
Summary
The Budget & Finance Committee introduced an ordinance to authorize the issuance of up to $25,000,000 in public improvement sales‑tax revenue bonds and set a Sept. 24 public hearing. A staff member clarified the action would not raise the sales tax and any tax increase would require voter approval under state law.
The Budget & Finance Committee introduced an ordinance to authorize the parish to issue public improvement sales‑tax revenue bonds in one or more series, not to exceed $25,000,000, and called a public hearing for Sept. 24, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
The measure was moved by Councilmember John Amity and seconded by Councilmember Kevin Champagne. The motion passed 9–0.
During committee discussion a councilmember asked whether the ordinance sought to increase the parish sales tax. A staff member replied that the ordinance does not implement an additional tax; rather, it cites the statutory authority (Act No. 500, Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, 1964) that permits the parish to levy and collect sales tax to pay bonds if the parish chose that method. The staff member said explicitly, “We are not implementing an additional tax. That is just part of the law that allows us to be able to do the bonds.”
The staff further clarified that any change to the parish sales‑tax rate would require a vote of the people and is not part of this bond authorization.
What comes next: The committee called a public hearing for Sept. 24, 2025, where residents may comment and council members may vote on the ordinance. If adopted, the bond issuance will be structured in one or more series and include provisions for refunding existing bonds as described in the ordinance backup materials.
Vote: 9–0 to introduce and call the public hearing.
