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Caldwell Parish school board warns state tax changes could strain district finances
Summary
Board members said falling local sales tax receipts and a proposed state tax package that removes exemptions could shrink district revenue, complicate teacher pay and threaten dedicated funds; members urged direct meetings with state officials and local outreach to encourage residents to shop locally.
Caldwell Parish School Board members on Wednesday flagged falling sales-tax receipts and warned that a proposed state tax package could reduce revenue streams the district relies on. Board members cited a roughly 24% year-over-year decline in sales-tax collections in recent months and said they have drafted a letter to state legislators urging caution and more direct engagement.
The board’s finance update showed the general fund currently about $137,000 worse than last year and described an operating picture complicated by an approximately $900,000 budget gap. A presenter said recent months included specific shortfalls — about $67,000 less in August, about $8,000 less in September and roughly $24,000 short for the most recent month — although the district did not attribute the drop to a single cause.
The board discussed a planned letter to residents encouraging them to “shop local, eat local,” and explained that Louisiana’s sales-tax treatment for shipped purchases means some online orders can generate sales tax revenue for the parish when the parcel is delivered here. “If you order from Amazon and you have it shipped to a Caldwell Parish residence, Caldwell Parish gets the sales tax,” a board member said during the meeting.
Members also expressed concern about a proposed state tax package that would remove numerous sales-tax exemptions and contains what attendees called “hidden language” that could reallocate revenue. The package was described by one participant as ambitious and potentially misleading about how it would fund teacher raises: board members argued that savings from other line items or accounting shifts, not new revenue, would be used to pay raises in some districts.
Superintendent Adam G said district leaders have coordinated with other local officials — including the sheriff’s office and tax assessor — to review the proposal’s timeline and to press for in-person meetings with state lawmakers before votes occur. “We need to speak for ourselves,” a board member said, urging face-to-face engagement rather than relying solely on letters.
The board approved routine minutes from prior meetings and discussed outreach and messaging strategies ahead of any state action. The board did not take formal action to alter millage rates or adopt new local taxes during the meeting; instead, members emphasized monitoring the state process and working with regional partners to protect the district’s revenue base.
The school system plans to distribute the letter and expand Chamber of Commerce contacts as part of a short-term effort to stabilize sales-tax receipts while continuing longer-term advocacy with state officials.
