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Saint Mary Parish School Board approves ITEP application from Saint Mary Sugar Cooperative
Summary
After public comment from the cooperative’s president, the Saint Mary Parish School Board voted to approve a tentative industrial tax exemption program application submitted by Saint Mary Sugar Cooperative; one board member recused.
The Saint Mary Parish School board voted to approve a tentative Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP) application submitted by Saint Mary Sugar Cooperative following public comment from the cooperative’s president and a brief board discussion.
Board President Dr. Fagan Bush introduced the item, saying the board had three options: ask for a 30-day extension to receive an economic impact report, approve the application, or deny it. Brett Alley, who identified himself as president of Saint Mary Sugar Cooperative and a former member of the Louisiana State Senate, addressed the board and described the cooperative as one of the state’s oldest, locally governed sugar companies. Alley said the cooperative generated “probably close to $180,000,000 in revenue” last year from sugarcane, that about 62% of those receipts are paid directly to farmers, and that the mill employs roughly 200 people during harvest. He told the board the cooperative needs a $24,000,000 cane baller to remain competitive and that securing tax relief was essential to finance the purchase.
Board discussion included a recusal by board member Miss Black because her employer does business with Saint Mary Sugar; she said she supported the application but recused herself under Revised Statute 42 11 12. The board also discussed projected local hiring tied to the application: for the record, a staff comment noted a commitment of three hires per year for 10 years at an average salary of $80,000.
Mister Guillory moved to approve the application and Miss Moore seconded. Two abstentions were recorded; the motion carried.
The board’s approval will be forwarded to the state for final action by the Louisiana Economic Development (LED), which had tentatively approved the exemption prior to the meeting. The board did not adopt a local ordinance or special conditions at the meeting; the approval recorded by the board was limited to the local action requested on the ITEP application.
Board members and cooperative representatives emphasized the cooperative’s local ownership and the role of the sugar industry in the parish economy. No formal amendment or additional conditions were adopted by the board at the meeting.
The board recorded the motion as approved and the matter will advance to the state review process.
