April 27, 2024 Is Election Day – Here’s What’s On The Ballot?

Some voters in Southwest Louisiana may not be unaware that a General Municipal Election will occur on Saturday, April 27, 2024. That could be because there hasn't been a ton of coverage, but KPLC put up a really informative post. This is yet another form of awareness and a reminder for all the voters in SWLA to get out and let their voices be heard.

All polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you plan to vote, bring one of the following:

Driver’s license,
Louisiana Special ID,
LA Wallet digital driver’s license,
A United States military ID containing the applicant’s name and picture                            Other recognized picture ID containing your name and signature.

WHAT'S ON YOUR BALLOT? 

CALCASIEU  

Recreation Dist. No. One of Ward Three -- $30M Bond - BOC - 15 Yrs.

Shall Recreation District No. One of Ward Three of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana (the “District”), incur debt and issue bonds, in one or more series, in an amount not to exceed $30,000,000 for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) years from the issuance thereof, with interest at a rate not exceeding 7.0% per annum, for the purpose of establishing, acquiring, constructing, improving, extending and maintaining within said District a recreational system and facilities for the benefit of all its citizens, with all necessary equipment and installations, including both movable and immovable property, owned or used by the District, in connection therewith, title to which shall be in the public, which said bonds shall be retired with, paid from and secured by an ad valorem tax on all taxable property within the limits of the District, sufficient in rate and amount to pay said bonds in principal and interest, with the estimated millage rate to be 3.00 mills in the first year of issue?

• PUT IN LAYMEN TERMS 
• Recreation District No. One of Ward Three of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana (the "District") shall incur debt and issue bonds, in one or more series, in an amount not to exceed $30,000,000 for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) years from the date of issuance thereof, with interest at a rate not to exceed 7.0% every year, to establish, acquire, building, improving, extending, and maintaining a recreational system and facilities within said District for the benefit of all of its citizens. The equipment and installations required for this purpose and any moveable and immovable property owned or used by the District will be public property. These bonds will be retired with, paid from, and secured by an ad valorem tax (property tax) on all taxable property within the District limits, adequate in quantity and rate to pay the principal and interest on the bonds, with a projected millage rate of 3.00 mills in the first year of issuance. This covers all real estate, including immovable and mobile, that the District owns or uses in conjunction with it and whose title is public domain.

BEAUREGARD

Parishwide Law Enforcement District -- 1/2% S&U Tax Renewal - Sheriff - 10 Yrs.

Shall the Law Enforcement District of the Parish of Beauregard, State of Louisiana (the “District”), be authorized to continue to levy and collect a sales and use tax of 1/2% (the “Tax”), (an estimated $4,000,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), in accordance with Louisiana law, for a period of 10 years, from and after October 1, 2024, with the proceeds of the Tax (after paying the reasonable and necessary costs and expenses of collecting and administering the Tax) to be dedicated and used towards the payment of the salaries and benefits of deputies?

• PUT IN LAYMEN TERMS
• Should the Parish of Beauregard Law Enforcement District, State of Louisiana (hereinafter referred to as the "District") be permitted to levy and collect a 1/2% sales and use tax (hereinafter referred to as the "Tax"), in accordance with Louisiana law, for a period of 10 years beginning on October 1, 2024, with the proceeds of the Tax (after deducting the reasonable and necessary costs and expenses of collecting and administering the Tax) designated and used towards the payment of deputies' salaries and benefits?

Road District No. One -- 24.36 Mills - PJ - 10 Yrs.

Shall Road District No. One of the Parish of Beauregard, Louisiana (the “District”), be authorized to levy a 24.36 mills tax on all of the property subject to taxation within the District (an estimated $746,548 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2024 and ending with the year 2033, for the purpose of maintaining Parish roads and bridges within the District?

• PUT IN LAYMEN TERMS
• Shall Road District No. One of the Parish of Beauregard, Louisiana (the "District") be authorized to levy a 24.36 mills tax on all property subject to taxation within the District (an estimated $746,548 reasonably expected to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year) for ten years, beginning in 2024 and ending in 2033, to maintain Parish roads and bridges within the District?

Fire Protection District No. 2 -- 6.81 Mills Renewal - BOC - 10 Yrs.

Shall Fire Protection District No. 2 of the Parish of Beauregard, State of Louisiana (the “District”), be authorized to continue to levy a special tax of 6.81 mills on all property subject to taxation in the District (an estimated $884,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2025 and ending with the year 2034, for the purpose of constructing, acquiring, improving, maintaining and operating fire protection facilities in the District and paying the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes, including charges for fire hydrant rentals and service?

• PUT IN LAYMEN TERMS
• Shall Fire Protection District No. 2 of the Parish of Beauregard, State of Louisiana (the "District"), be authorized to continue to levy a special tax of 6.81 mills on all property subject to taxation in the District (an estimated $884,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for ten years, beginning with the year 2025 and ending with the year 2034, to construct, acquire, improve, maintain and operate fire protection purposes, including charges for fire hydrant and service?

JEFFERSON DAVIS

Recall Kesia Lemoine -- Mayor, Town of Elton

Parishwide Proposition -- 2.61 Mills Renewal - PJ - 10 Yrs.

Shall the Parish of Jefferson Davis, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), be authorized to continue to levy a tax of 2.61 mills on all property subject to taxation within the Parish, for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2025 and ending with the year 2034, (with collections from the levy of the tax estimated to be $748,500 for one entire year), for upkeep and maintenance of the Parish courthouse and Parish jail?

• PUT IN LAYMEN TERMS
• Shall the Parish of Jefferson Davis, State of Louisiana (the "Parish") be authorized to continue to levy a tax of 2.61 mills on all property subject to taxation within the Parish for ten years, beginning in 2025 and ending in 2034 (with tax collections estimated to be $748,500 for one entire year), for the upkeep and maintenance of the Parish courthouse and Parish jail?

Sub Road Dist. No. 1 of Road Dist. Number Eleven -- 10.46 Mills Continuation - PJ - 10 Yrs.

Shall Sub Road District No. 1 of Road District Number Eleven of the Parish of Jefferson Davis, Louisiana (the “District”), be authorized to continue to levy a tax of 10.46 mills on all property subject to taxation within the District, for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2025 and ending with the year 2034, (with collections from the levy of the tax estimated to be $339,000 for one entire year), for the purpose of improving and maintaining Parish roads and bridges within the District, title to which shall be in the public, said millage to represent a .14 mills increase (due to reappraisal) over the 10.32 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2024 pursuant to an election held on December 6, 2014?

• PUT IN LAYMEN TERMS
• Shall Sub Road District No. 1 of Road District Number Eleven of the Parish of Jefferson Davis, Louisiana (the "District"), be authorized to continue to levy a tax of 10.46 mills on all property subject to taxation within the District, for a period of ten years, beginning with the year 2025 and ending with the year 2034, (with tax collections estimated to be $339,000 for one entire year), for the purpose of improving and maintaining Parish roads and bridges within the District, title to which shall be in the public, said millage to represent a.14 mills increase (due to reappraisal) over the 10.32 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2024 pursuant to an election held on December 6, 2014.

School District No. 1 -- 3.15M Bond - SB - 20 Yrs.

Shall School District No. 1 of the Parish of Jefferson Davis, State of Louisiana (the “District”), incur debt and issue bonds not exceeding $3,015,000, in one or more series, to run not exceeding 20 years from date thereof, with interest at a rate not exceeding 7% per annum, for the purpose of financing capital expenditures for school purposes for the District, including constructing, acquiring and/or improving schools and other school related facilities, together with equipment and furnishings therefor, title to which shall be in the public; which bonds will be general obligations of the District and will be payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974 and statutory authority supplemental thereto, with an estimated increase of 2 mills to be levied in the first year of issue above the 2 mills currently being levied to pay General Obligation Bonds of the District?

• PUT IN LAYMEN TERMS
• Shall School District No. 1 of the Parish of Jefferson Davis, State of Louisiana (the "District") incur debt and issue bonds not exceeding $3,015,000, in one or more series, to run not more than 20 years from the date thereof, with interest at a rate not exceeding 7% per annum, for the purpose of financing capital expenditures for school purposes for the District, including constructing, acquiring, and/or improving schools and other school-related facilities, together with equipment and furnishings therefor, title to which shall be in the public; which bonds will be general obligations of the District and will be payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974 and statutory authority supplemental thereto, with an estimated increase of 2 mills to be levied in the first year of issue over the 2 mills currently being taxed in the first year of issue over the two mills now levied to pay the District's General Obligation Bonds?

Welsh-Roanoke Consolidated Sch. Dist. No. One (1) -- 8.5M Bond - SB - 20 Yrs.

Shall Welsh-Roanoke Consolidated School District No. One (1) of Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana (the “District”), incur debt and issue bonds not exceeding $8,500,000, in one or more series, to run not exceeding 20 years from date thereof, with interest at a rate not exceeding 7% per annum, for the purpose of financing capital expenditures for school purposes for the District, including constructing, acquiring and/or improving schools and other school related facilities, together with equipment and furnishings therefor, title to which shall be in the public; which bonds will be general obligations of the District and will be payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974 and statutory authority supplemental thereto, with an estimated 12 mills to be levied in the first year of issue to pay said bonds?

• PUT IN LAYMEN TERMS
• Welsh-Roanoke Consolidated School District No. One (1) of Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana (the "District") shall incur debt and issue bonds not exceeding $8,500,000 in one or more series, to run not exceeding 20 years from the date thereof, with interest at a rate not exceeding 7% per annum, to finance capital expenditures for school purposes for the District, including constructing, acquiring, and/or improving schools and other school-related facilities, together with equipment and furnishings therefor, title to which shall be in public; these bonds will be general obligations of the District and will be payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974 and statutory authority supplemental thereto, with an estimated 12 mills to be levied in the first year.

Town of Welsh -- 1% S&U Tax - M&BOA - 15 Yrs.

Shall the Town of Welsh, State of Louisiana (the “Town”), be authorized to continue to levy a sales and use tax of 1% (the “Tax”) in accordance with Louisiana law (an estimated $580,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), for a period of 15 years from and after April 1, 2026, with the proceeds of the Tax (after paying the reasonable and necessary expenses of collecting and administering the Tax), to be dedicated and used for the purpose of paying the costs of constructing, improving, re-surfacing and maintaining public streets, alleys and sidewalks, including drainage incidental thereto, and acquiring equipment therefor?

• PUT IN LAYMEN TERMS
• For fifteen years beginning on April 1, 2026, the Town of Welsh, State of Louisiana (hereinafter referred to as the "Town"), shall be permitted to levy a one percent sales and use tax (hereinafter referred to as the "Tax") following Louisiana law, with an estimated $580,000 reasonably expected to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year. The proceeds of the Tax, after covering the reasonable and necessary expenses of collecting and administering the Tax, shall be dedicated and used to cover the costs associated with building, renovating, resurfacing, and maintaining public streets, alleys, and sidewalks, as well as the acquisition of equipment for these purposes.

Fire Protection District No. 6 -- 5.59 Mills Continuation - BOC - 10 Yrs.

Shall Fire Protection District No. 6 of the Parish of Jefferson Davis, State of Louisiana (the “District”), be authorized to continue to levy a special tax of 5.59 mills on all property subject to taxation within the District, for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2025 and ending with the year 2034, with collections from the levy of the tax estimated to be $77,800 for one entire year, for the purpose of fire protection, including constructing, improving, maintaining and operating fire protection facilities, title to which shall be in the public, said millage to represent a .06 mills increase (due to reappraisal) over the 5.53 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2024 pursuant to an election held on December 6, 2014?

• PUT IN LAYMEN TERMS
• Will Fire Protection District No. 6 of the Parish of Jefferson Davis, State of Louisiana (the "District") be permitted to impose a special tax of 5.59 mills on all property subject to taxation within the District for a period of ten years, starting in 2025 and ending in 2034? The estimated proceeds from the tax levy for one full year will be used for fire protection, including building, enhancing, maintaining, and operating fire protection facilities, the title to which will be in the public domain. This amount represents a reappraisal-related increase.06 mills over the 5.53 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2024 as a result of an election held on December 6, 2014?

For more info on this election go to the Louisiana Secretary of State website or download the Geaux Vote Mobile App.