Plans to place a previously defeated sales tax rededication proposal for a new animal shelter in Jeff Davis Parish back on the ballot are under consideration. The local Police Jury was scheduled to review the jail tax rededication on Wednesday, but has instead organized a special meeting for 17:00 on January 22, 2024, to further discuss the issue.
Butch Lafargue, President of the Police Jury, indicated the need for additional time to gather opinions from members regarding the timing of the potential ballot measure. “Some might think we need to do it in June, some might think the fall,” Lafargue stated. “We’ll get everybody’s opinion on how fast, what’s good and what’s not good, then we’ll go from there. We’ll have a decision next week.”
The proposed rededication aims to redirect a portion of an existing half-cent sales tax to support the new animal shelter, which is currently being constructed at a cost of $2.1 million. According to Parish Administrator Ben Boudreaux, if the intention is to place the item on the June 27, 2024, ballot, an official announcement must occur during the regular February meeting to allow for necessary legal preparations.
The Police Jury has the option to place the item on the June ballot or postpone until the fall to allow for more thorough discussions. The original proposal was narrowly defeated in November 2023, with a vote tally of 1,391 to 1,376. The measure sought to allocate nearly $300,000 from a $3.3 million jail maintenance tax to cover operating costs for the new facility, which is expected to be completed in March 2024.
During the special meeting, Police Juror Steve Eastman emphasized the importance of public understanding regarding the tax rededication. “Trying to redo tax rededication in June is going to be a time constraint on us, but I think we need to have a little more time to get back out to the public and make sure they understand that this is not a new tax,” Eastman explained. “It’s the same tax they have been paying.” He noted that the fund currently has a surplus that could support both the jail and the animal shelter without requiring additional taxpayer contributions.
In addition to discussing the tax rededication, the Police Jury will address the vacancy left by the passing of Owen Cormier, who served as a Police Juror since his election in 2019 until his death on January 8, 2024. The jury is legally required to fill the vacancy within 20 days of Cormier’s passing to avoid state intervention in appointing a successor.
Jurors will also review a proposed rate increase for Dillion Disposal. The company is seeking a $4 per month increase, which would adjust monthly rates to between $34 and $44, based on the number of containers used by customers. According to Dillion Disposal President Jordan Danna, this would be the first rate adjustment since September 2022, aimed at addressing rising operational costs, including insurance, fuel, and labor.
As the discussions unfold, the outcome will significantly impact funding for the new animal shelter and the community’s waste management services.
