DeSoto Parish administrative committee approves agreements, adopts 2026 millage and defers precinct relocation

The DeSoto Parish administrative committee on Feb. 13 authorized several routine measures, adopted the parish's 2026 millage rate and deferred a proposal to relocate a consolidated precinct polling site for further review.

The committee voted to authorize the parish president to sign an agreement with the Capital Area Finance Authority and to enter a cooperative endeavor with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. Both votes were moved and seconded and announced as carried by the chair. The body also adopted the 2026 millage rate on a unanimous vote after a brief procedural motion by Mister Baker.

Members appointed the Mansfield Enterprise as the official journal for the DeSoto Parish Police Jury. The motion passed after members noted limited local options for an official newspaper designation.

On a more contested item, the committee considered relocating consolidated Precinct 28 and Precinct 37 from Gramercane Baptist Church to the David Means Memorial Building at 10117 US 171 in Grand Cane. Jurors questioned whether the clerk had exhausted alternative sites, whether the proposed location met mileage and district requirements and whether the clerk could attend a future meeting to answer those questions. After discussion, an alternate motion to defer consideration until the regular full-jury meeting passed on a roll call.

The administrative committee then adjourned; the precinct relocation will be revisited at the next full jury meeting pending input from the parish clerk.