DeSoto Parish defers vote on 80% industrial tax abatement for ET Gathering and Processing LLC

DeSoto Parish Police Jury members voted to defer consideration of an industrial tax-exemption application for ET Gathering and Processing LLC after a lengthy presentation and sustained questions from jurors about the size of the abatement, job counts and local benefits.

Eric Geisler of Economic Incentive Services, representing the company, said the project would create about 12 direct jobs and six indirect positions, involve substantial capital investment and be located in the southeast corner of DeSoto Parish. Geisler said the state program dictates an 80% abatement and that similar projects already operating in the region produce comparable wages. "This is a very exciting economic development project," Geisler said during the presentation. He also said the state had approved advance notification and that construction and hiring could begin under the program rules.

Several jurors pressed for more detail on the local fiscal impact. One juror framed the choice this way: "If I wanna give away $300,000 in tax money, so 12 people get paid this money," (spoken by the juror identified in the transcript as Mister Baker) and asked whether the net benefit justified the abatement. Jurors also sought specifics on the proposed site (described as near Bob Wilson and Highway 174, in District 6, near the Sabine and Natchitoches parish lines) and on how local hiring and training would be handled. Geisler said the company intends to work with the workforce commission and local recruitment, and that some on‑the‑job training would be provided, but also noted that the company cannot require employees to live in DeSoto Parish.

Jurors discussed whether severance tax gains could be counted as an additional local benefit; one juror said severance tax revenue accrues regardless of plant location, while other jurors and the presenter argued the processing plant could create an additional market that would increase local severance collections. The presenter stated that the state program's percentage is set by statute and not negotiable in this application: "Not within this program," Geisler said when asked whether the 80% could be reduced.

After debate, a juror moved to defer the item and the jury approved the motion to postpone consideration so staff and jurors could gather more information and possibly hold a work session before a final vote. Company representatives said they would follow up with additional details.

The jury did not vote on the exemption itself at this meeting; the matter was deferred for later consideration.