Natchitoches council keeps current millage rates, approves rollforward to authorized ceilings

The Natchitoches City Council on May 11 adopted two ordinances that set the city’s adjusted millage rates and roll forward the tax ceilings for the 2026 tax year.

Councilman Harrington presented Ordinance 13, which sets adjusted millage rates for purposes including public safety and general operations. Councilman P.T. then moved Ordinance 14 to roll forward rates to the maximum authorized levels — public safety at 10.0 mills and general at 7.03 mills. Both measures passed on roll‑call votes with council members voting in favor.

City staff and department leaders told the council the measures preserve existing levies rather than creating a new tax. The fire and public‑safety funds are restricted to those operations, officials said. “It’s not a new tax,” a staff member said, adding the assessor’s valuation and homestead exemptions affect how any change appears on individual bills.

Chiefs and department heads described uses for the revenue, including personnel, fuel and routine operations. The council and staff noted rising fuel and equipment costs and said the rollforward is intended to maintain services without creating new spending programs.

The ordinances were adopted by roll call with all members recorded as voting yes. The council noted the matter will be monitored in budget work sessions and that disclosures required by state law were observed during the public hearing portion of the meeting.

Next steps: The rate ordinances take effect according to state law; staff will publish required notices and continue budget planning tied to the adopted rates.