Baker council adopts Ordinance 2026‑6 setting property tax rate after 30‑day layover

The City of Baker council adopted Ordinance 2026‑6, a property tax ordinance that was introduced on Jan. 13, 2026 and required a 30‑day layover before adoption. The attorney read the ordinance title at the public hearing, and the council approved adoption by voice vote.

At a public hearing opened by the presiding officer, the attorney read the title of the measure: "This is ordinance 20 26 dash 6, property tax and ordinance to fix the rate of taxation and levy a tax to defray expense or operation of city government for all general purposes for '26 on all taxable property within the corporate limits of the city of Baker, Louisiana." The reading was part of the record establishing what the ordinance would do and its geographic scope.

Council member Dunne moved to adopt Ordinance 2026‑6; the motion received a second (recorded as Collins). The presiding officer called for a voice vote; the ayes were heard and the motion carried. The record does not show a roll‑call tally; the council used a voice vote to record approval.

Why it matters: the ordinance sets the city’s property tax rate and affects all taxable property within Baker’s corporate limits; because the measure required and completed a 30‑day layover, the council could act at this meeting to finalize adoption. The attorney’s reading placed the ordinance and its purpose on the record, and the council’s action moves the tax rate into effect under the city’s adoption procedures.

What’s next: the council did not specify an effective date for the levy during the hearing; the ordinance record indicates it was introduced on 01/13/2026 and was acted on at this meeting. Any implementation timeline, effective date or administrative steps to apply the new rate will be handled by city staff and reflected in the ordinance text and subsequent city communications.