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Board hears proposed 2025 tax millage plan; District 7 levy to rise to cover bond deficit
Summary
Finance chair recommended 2025 millage adjustments across several tax districts to address reserves and a near-term bond deficit in District 7 tied to the local tax base decline after the plant closure.
NATCHITOCHES, La. — The Natchitoches Parish School Board’s finance discussion on May 6 covered the annual tax-millage resolution for 2025 and proposed changes to several districts’ levies to address reserves and a bond deficit.
CFO Lee Wascom and finance chair presented a recommendation for the 2025 tax levy schedule that includes lowering some millages and increasing others to balance reserves and service debt. The packet included a proposal to zero out the consolidated district levy for the school slated for closure and to reduce some districts’ millage where reserves remain strong.
Finance staff recommended raising the District 7 bond millage temporarily to address a deficit the board was told resulted from prior errors and from a substantially reduced tax base after the IP plant closure. The superintendent and finance staff said District 7’s tax base fell by roughly 62% and that, without raising the bond millage, the district’s bond debt would remain in arrears. The presenter recommended increasing District 7 from its current 8 mills to 13 mills this year and suggested that the millage could rise to 20 mills next year based on estimated changes in the taxable base.
The proposal also suggested lowering District 10’s millage (Marthaville) because its reserves are healthy, and trimming District 8 by 2 mills. Board members asked for follow-up meetings to review the final numbers and to seek the state bond agency’s sign-off on any changes. Finance staff said adjustments would then be coordinated with the district’s financial advisor, Brendan Black, for formal submission and publication schedules.
During the discussion board members emphasized the need for additional briefings with district leadership prior to final adoption and asked that staff provide the calculations that underlie the recommended millage changes. Finance staff agreed to schedule follow-up meetings and to provide revised materials for the board’s vote in time for publication deadlines.
Ending: The board did not take a final vote the same night; members requested further review meetings before adopting the millage resolution.
