Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Millage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Terrebonne Parish School Board adopts 2026 millage rates after members warn funding is tight
Summary
The board voted unanimously among those present to adopt 2026 millage rates — regular school tax 3.86 mills and special school tax 5.41 mills — after members said Terrebonne Parish has one of the lowest school millage rates in Louisiana and signaled voters may be asked for more revenue in the future.
The Terrebonne Parish School Board voted to adopt its 2026 millage resolution after several board members described the district as operating with one of the lowest school millage rates in the state.
Board President Dane Boisand presided as the clerk read a resolution levying the 2026 tax roll for the district, listing a regular (constitutional) school tax of 3.86 mills and a special school tax for maintenance of 5.41 mills. The board then took a roll-call vote; the clerk announced eight yeas, no nays and one absence (Roger Dale DeHart), carrying the resolution among those present.
“Currently, as it stands, we, Terrebonne Parish, have the lowest levied millage in the state for public education,” said board member Matthew Ford, who urged the public to understand how much the district provides with relatively limited millage revenue and warned that the district may soon need to ask voters for an increase in millage or a sales-tax measure.
Dr. Cloche, offering a complementary view of the district’s fiscal picture, said one-time funds from the pandemic and FEMA had temporarily helped capital needs and rebuilding but are now largely gone.
“We’ve been able to use FEMA funds to help rebuild our schools, and we’re coming up with some very excellent schools. But again, that is fast going away as well,” Dr. Cloche said, adding that teacher pay and rising costs will require sustained funding.
Several board members echoed concerns about rising costs and the fiscal picture in neighboring districts. Vice President Debbie Benoit noted national reporting about movements in some states to change property tax structures and suggested sales-tax options could be part of future revenue discussions.
The board adopted the resolution after members’ remarks and the roll-call vote. The vote tally as announced by the clerk was eight yeas, no nays, one absent.
The board’s action sets the district’s millage rates for the 2026 tax roll; implementation and collection were described in the resolution as to be handled by the appropriate parish administrative officials according to law.
