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Lobbyist says state tax package could return severance revenue to DeSoto Parish if voters approve
Summary
At a DeSoto Parish Police Jury meeting, lobbyist Chance Magnolia described a governor-called tax package that would allow parishes to retain 20% of severance-tax receipts; jurors heard an estimated five‑year average of about $18 million per year for DeSoto Parish, pending voter approval in March.
Chance Magnolia, a lobbyist who briefed the DeSoto Parish Police Jury at its December meeting, said a recent governor-called tax session produced a package that would let parishes keep 20% of severance-tax receipts if voters approve a related constitutional amendment.
Magnolia told jurors the change would remove the prior cap and ‘‘parishes will get to keep, you know, 20% of their severance tax’’ and that, based on a five‑year average, ‘‘20% on average is about $18,000,000.’’ He said the change is subject to a public vote expected in March and, if approved, would take effect with the fiscal year that begins July 1.
A juror who spoke during the briefing described how the change would work at the local level, saying ‘‘every dollar they pull out of the ground, 20¢ that will come back.’’ Magnolia and jurors discussed timing and distribution: Magnolia said monthly payments are expected and that money likely will be received over the course of a year rather than in a single lump sum.
Magnolia warned that the legislature could later place ‘‘guardrails’’ on how parishes spend the new revenue. ‘‘I'm not aware of there being a bill... but don't be surprised if a bill... come up to say, alright, parishes—here are the guardrails on how you can spend this money,’’ he said, and urged jurors to participate in follow-up discussions with lawmakers.
Board members and Magnolia also discussed related provisions in the package, including teacher compensation language and inventory-tax options for parishes. On inventory tax, Magnolia said the legislature did not eliminate it statewide but made aspects optional for parishes, creating possible peer pressure between jurisdictions on whether to retain or waive the tax.
What happens next: Magnolia said he will provide jurors a list of parishes affected by severance revenues and that the measure will be on a March ballot for voter approval. The jury did not take formal action on the briefing; it was presented during the public-lobbyist report portion of the meeting.
