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Rep. Breaux pushes fund to buy out Belle Chasse toll concession after local complaints
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Summary
Representative Breaux’s bill would create a Belle Chasse Bridge Merit‑Based Fund, directing recurring severance revenues from Plaquemines Parish to bond and buy out the 30‑year toll concession; residents and local businesses testified about high administrative tolls and economic harm.
Representative Breaux told the Appropriations Committee he is seeking a targeted funding vehicle — the Belle Chasse Bridge Merit-Based Special Fund — that would use recurring severance tax revenue from Plaquemines Parish to bond against and buy out the private 30‑year toll concession on the Belle Chasse bridge.
Breaux described billing practices and administrative charges that produced very large toll invoices for residents and businesses and said the previous contract produced mismanagement and unmet promises for local infrastructure projects. He said the proposal would capture revenue that otherwise flows to the state general fund and use it to pay a buyout price and return the bridge to non-toll operation.
Multiple business owners and residents testified in support. The YMCA of Greater New Orleans said the tolling “has been a disaster” that cut off service to seniors and families; seafood business owners described sharp revenue declines during tolling months and submitted petitions and data to the committee. Plaquemines Parish Council members and local officials urged action to relieve the parish’s economic burden.
A technical amendment clarified that identified revenues would be recurring severance tax receipts collected in Plaquemines Parish; the committee adopted that amendment and reported HB488 favorable as amended.
Next steps: HB488 was reported favorable as amended and will move to the House floor for further consideration.
