Ouachita Parish calls March 29 election to renew library millage and approves $5.386M renovation bid

The Ouachita Parish Police Jury voted on Nov. 18 to call a special election for March 29, 2025, asking voters to renew a 7.64-mill parishwide library tax for 10 years that the resolution estimates will generate $10,179,669 in its first year. The Jury adopted Resolution No. 24-76 unanimously and set publication and canvass requirements, including a canvass meeting on April 21, 2025, and designated polling places across the parish.

At the same meeting the Jury accepted a recommendation from Bill Land of Land 3 Architect and voted to award the main-branch library renovation contract to Triad Builders of Ruston Inc., the lowest conforming bidder, for $5,386,000 (motion offered by Larry Bratton, seconded by Michael Thompson; motion passed without opposition). The ordinance and resolution materials refer to procedures for publishing the election notice in the official journal and using voting machines at the precincts listed in the resolution.

The library millage renewal was presented to the Jury as a continuation of an existing tax; the resolution and its Exhibit A specify the uses as equipment, supplies, maintenance, operation, construction, acquisition, improvement, renovation, and support of the Ouachita Parish Library and its branches. The Jury also ratified routine finance-committee actions and approved budget and claims materials during the same meeting.

The next procedural steps recorded in the minutes are publication of the Notice of Special Election in The Ouachita Citizen once weekly for four consecutive weeks and the Parish’s canvass of returns in open session on April 21, 2025. The resolution lists an estimated election cost of $84,000, subject to change if additional ballot items alter the Parish’s share of costs.

The Police Jury meets again to handle canvass and other procedural tasks following the election call.