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Senator Presley visits DeSoto Parish; $8 million HB2 allocation highlighted amid road concerns
Summary
Sen. Thomas Presley told the Police Jury he helped secure $8 million in HB2 capital outlay for DeSoto Parish and discussed evidence of the parish sending substantial severance tax revenue to Baton Rouge; jurors raised concerns about local road conditions and equipment outages slowing road work.
Sen. Thomas Presley (Senate District 38) addressed the DeSoto Parish Police Jury on Sept. 9 and described work during the legislative session to secure capital‑outlay funding for the parish. Presley said the parish received $1.6 million earlier and secured an additional $8 million in HB2 capital outlay this year — amounts he characterized as the largest capital outlay the parish has received recently.
Presley said he is pressing to change the severance‑tax formula so more revenue returns to producing parishes and signaled a possible special session on tax policy in November. He and lobbyist Chance McNeely urged jurors to prepare to spend capital money efficiently and noted that state processes and matching rules can slow projects.
Jurors raised concerns about local state roads and heavy truck traffic. Presley said he has discussed road problems with the Department of Transportation and Development and acknowledged that federal match rules and administrative processes can delay repairs. Administrator and staff updates at the same meeting added that the overlay machine and a tack truck were out of service and that three dump trucks were unavailable, requiring contractors to perform recent laydowns.
The administrator also reported a completed debris‑removal tranche (32,257 cubic yards disposed) and that reimbursements from GOSEP could cover up to 75% of disposal costs. Other updates included Stonewall compactor zoning in late September, Park Road design progress, and a Highway 84 turn‑lane bid opening Sept. 24.
No formal action was taken on the HB2 funds during the meeting; the administrator said the parish had received the CEA for $1.6 million and expected the CEA for $8 million soon and that a kickoff meeting with state officials is required before using the funds.
