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DeSoto Parish School Board calls November elections for two millage renewals; bond counsel warns of funding gap if they fail
Summary
The board adopted resolutions calling a November election to renew a 43.17 mills operations & maintenance tax and an 8.17 mills capital tax. Staff said some district bond millages can be reduced; bond counsel warned that failure to renew would create a "massive hole" in operations funding.
The DeSoto Parish School Board voted to call a November election to renew two existing school millages: a 43.17 mills operations and maintenance tax (10-year renewal) and an 8.17 mills capital tax. Board members carried both resolutions after staff described recommended millage adjustments in several local districts and bond counsel explained the stakes if voters reject renewal.
A staff member presenting the proposed resolutions told the board the parishwide millage recommendations largely remain unchanged but recommended small decreases for certain geo/bond millages because of reserve balances in those districts. Specifically, the transcript records staff describing a recommendation to reduce Logansport's bond millage (from about 13.15 to 10), to reduce the Stanley district's millage (reported in the transcript as a decrease from 15 to 5), and to reduce Mansfield's millage from 4 to 3. The staff member framed the proposal as a way to modestly lower property tax payments for those constituents.
Bond counsel's view: The board heard from bond counsel, identified in the meeting as Mike Desana of law firm Butler Snow. He told the board these renewals have a long history in the district and stressed that these property taxes are the primary revenue source for day-to-day operations, including salaries and maintenance. "If these were to fail, you would have a massive hole," counsel said, warning that failure to renew would leave the district with a significant budget gap and difficult operational choices.
Board action and procedure: The board opened the public hearing on millage rates, heard staff and counsel explanations, and carried motions to place both renewal questions on the November ballot. The transcript records the motions as carried but does not include roll-call tallies or recorded public comments during the hearing.
Why it matters: These renewals fund core district services. If voters reject them, the district would face reduced revenues and might need to curtail services or staffing. The staff presentation emphasized the district's financial planning allowed modest decreases in some local mills because of reserves in certain bond districts.
Next steps: Both millage renewals will appear on the November ballot as called by the DeSoto Parish School Board; the transcript does not include campaign plans, precise ballot language, or a roll-call vote tally.
