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St. Landry Parish superintendent outlines two-proposition millage for May 16 ballot
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Summary
Superintendent Milton Batsis III announced a two-part millage for the May 16 ballot that would fund at least $2,500 raises for all district employees, add counselors, nurses and school resource officers, and finance security equipment and athletic facility upgrades if both propositions pass.
Milton Batsis III, superintendent of the St. Landry Parish School District, told a community audience that the district will place two millage propositions on the May 16 ballot to fund employee raises, safety upgrades and facility improvements.
"We are bringing a millage proposal to the ballot on May 16," Batsis said, adding the package is intended to support employee compensation, school safety and competitive student programs while maintaining fiscal responsibility. He said rising costs for curriculum, technology, maintenance and transportation made the request necessary.
The plan would be carried in two linked propositions that must both pass to take effect, a presenter said. Under Proposition 1, the district would guarantee a pay raise of no less than $2,500 for all St. Landry Parish School District employees and establish dedicated funds for school counselors, nurses and school resource officers. Under Proposition 2, the district would install metal detectors at every site, add secure fencing at open elementary campuses, place IP cameras in schools serving fifth through eighth grades and make targeted athletic and facility investments at several high schools.
"As a student of the St. Landry Parish School District, I see firsthand how much support our schools need," student Peyton Ortega said. Ortega and a superintendent advisory council — composed of parents, students, community members, staff and principals, a presenter said — helped prioritize the district needs reflected in the two propositions.
Batsis characterized the parish's current school millage as relatively low, saying the rate is 20.5 mills and that the parish ranks "sixtieth out of 64 parishes" in Louisiana. That comparison was offered to illustrate the district's funding challenges; the transcript does not provide supporting documentation for the ranking.
The package includes specific facility investments the speakers listed by school: new tracks, a turf soccer/football combination field and an activity bus for Beauchamp, Eunice High, North Central, Northwest, Opelousas High and Port Barry High, and a new performing-arts auditorium for Macca, according to the presentation. The speaker did not provide cost estimates or a detailed breakdown in the remarks recorded in the transcript.
Recognizing taxpayer concerns, Batsis pointed listeners to a millage calculator on the district website to estimate individual tax impact. Presenters also noted that primary residences receive a $75,000 homestead exemption and that property is taxed on assessed value rather than appraised value; they described agricultural land as assessed at 10% of use value and referenced a range of "$20 to $40 an acre" to indicate lower tax contributions for farms compared with residential property.
No board vote or formal adoption was recorded in the remarks; the session presented the proposed measures to the public and urged voter participation in the May 16 election.
The district announced the plan publicly and urged community members to review the propositions and use the online calculator to understand potential individual impacts before the May 16 vote.
