Metropolitan Council deadlocks on public-safety millage roll-forwards after hours of testimony

The Metropolitan Council on Wednesday debated whether to roll forward a set of public-safety millages — changes that would keep tax rates aligned with property reassessments and increase funding for local fire and police districts — but failed to approve the measure after extended public comment and lengthy council discussion.

The roll-forward package would have increased several existing millage rates, including Baton Rouge municipal fire salaries and benefits from 5.68 mills to 6.00 mills and a city three‑platoon police tax from 0.82 mills to 0.87 mills. Supporters said the modest increases were needed to preserve staffing, equipment and insurance ratings for small fire districts across the parish.

Supporters included local fire chiefs, union leaders and volunteer fire district representatives who said the extra revenue is critical to maintain response capacity. "This money goes strictly to our salary and benefits, and we use this as a recruitment tool and retention," said Carol Campbell, chief of the Brownsville Fire Department. "A fire truck today costs you over $1,000,000. Ten years ago you could buy one for less than $300,000. We just don't have the money to…