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Two proposals on ballot in November
Voters will cast ballots Nov. 14 on a pair of tax propositions placed by two local governments.
The Franklin Parish School Board is seeking renewal of a .5-cent sales tax that contributes some $1.4 million to its annual budget.
Meanwhile, the Franklin Parish Police Jury will ask voters to undo a clerical error passed as part of the .5-cent garbage tax, when voters approved the renewal nine years ago.
Police jury treasurer Sam Wiggins said voters approved renewal of the garbage tax in 2000. At the time, key wording was dropped from the wording of the tax.
While most parish-wide taxes collected by the jury pay approximately 4 percent into the administrative fund, the 2000 renewal of the garbage tax dropped wording that would allow for such payments, according to Wiggins.
"All of our other funds receive a four percent administrative fee," Wiggins said. "That means they pay the general fund 4 percent of revenues, to pay back the office for administrative costs."
Wiggins pointed out the proposition on the ballot was not a new tax or a renewal. Instead, voters were being asked to amend the existing tax to allow the administrative payments to be passed onto the police jury general fund.
"This is not an additional tax," Wiggins said. "It's just authorizing us to use the 4 percent of revenues collected to pay back the general fund."
Wiggins said the tax generates approximately $1.2 million a year to pay for garbage service in the parish. The administrative fee would generate about $40,000 for the general fund.
"With everything we are mandated to pay, we need this money to build up the general fund," Wiggins said.
Voters will also be asked to consider a renewal of a parish-wide, .5-cent sales tax for the Franklin Parish School Board.
Franklin Parish Superintendent Lanny Johnson said the tax generates a large portion of the school system's budget.
"That tax brings in about $1.2 million a year," Johnson said. "It's our biggest tax."
The tax was last renewed for five years in 2004. This time, Johnson said the board opted to ask voters to approve a 10-year renewal.
Early voting for the Nov. 14 election will begin Saturday, Oct. 31 and will continue through Saturday, Nov. 7.
Individuals interested in casting early ballots can do so at the Registrar of Voters office in the Franklin Parish Court House between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Mail-in ballots can be requested through the registrar's office or via the Louisiana Secretary of State's website at www.sos.louisiana.gov. |
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