Livingston council reinstates dormant industrial development board to pursue local incentive deals

The Livingston Parish Council on Thursday voted 5-3 to adopt amendments that begin the reinstatement of the parish's Industrial Development Board (IDB), a move county economic officials said is intended to give the parish leverage to negotiate local incentive packages for new industrial projects.

Melody Lockwood, president and CEO of the Livingston Economic Development Council, told the council she had worked since October to update the 1980 articles of incorporation and said surrounding parishes routinely use pilot/PILOT agreements to attract projects. "We can't compete when we can't offer the same benefits that they have in other parishes," Lockwood said.

The resolution approved on Thursday authorizes filing amended and restated articles of incorporation for the IDB and designates a point person to begin the reinstatement process; Lockwood asked the council to allow her to serve in an acting capacity to complete paperwork and gather nominations. Councilman Mangus moved the measure and Councilman Goff seconded it. After discussion, the council called the question and the amendments carried 5-3 (no votes recorded by Councilwoman Sandifer, Councilman Coates and Councilman Erdey).

Why it matters: Lockwood and parish leaders said the IDB structure allows the parish to negotiate payment-in-lieu-of-tax arrangements and transfer titles to certain assets to an IDB for limited periods, after which assets and property return to the owner. Proponents said local pilots would let the parish tailor incentives to targeted manufacturers and other qualifying firms; opponents and several council members raised concerns about language in the draft articles that references "anti-pollution development" and authority to acquire or hold assets, and sought guarantees the council would retain final approval of any agreements.

Key details: Lockwood told the council the IDB was created at the state level in 1979 and formally established in Livingston in 1980, but has been dormant for decades. Her draft amendments set the board size as a minimum of three members and a maximum of eight; she said nominees will be required to demonstrate industry or professional credentials (bankers, attorneys, business owners) rather than being purely political appointees.

Council oversight and limits: Multiple council members pressed Lockwood on limits of the IDB's authority. Parish administration and Lockwood said the IDB would not have the power to expropriate private land and that any project agreements would return to the council for final approval. Lockwood said title to assets (buildings or equipment, not real property already on the assessor's rolls) can be held in the IDB's name for the term of an agreement, and that negotiated PILOT payments are remitted to the sheriff and distributed like regular tax receipts.

Next steps: The council approved the amendments to allow the reinstatement process to proceed; Lockwood said she will return with nominations for council approval. Council staff and legal advisers also recommended the council consider an ordinance to set qualifications for board membership because of the sensitive and potentially confidential nature of negotiations.

Ending: Councilmembers who voted against the measure said they wanted more time to review the precise verbiage and to limit unintended authorities; supporters said reviving the IDB is a needed tool to compete for large industrial projects and grow the parish's tax base.