(The Center Square) — Residents in East Baton Rouge Parish will vote for five tax renewals, a bond issue and a new millage proposed by the district attorney’s office in Saturday’s election.
While most property tax rates on the ballot are up for renewal, the district attorney’s office is seeking a new increase to combat crime in the area.
Residents will also vote on for a new representative for House District 67 and both two St. George council seats (at-large and District 4)
A crime trend analysis by the Baton Rouge Police Department shows that Baton Rouge has had 34 homicides year-to-date, which while three fewer than last year’s year-to-date, is still relatively high. The city has received over 62,000 calls for service so far this year.
To combat the high crime rates, the district attorney is seeking a parish-wide property tax. The 19th Judicial Enforcement District wants levy a tax of four mills on taxable property, estimating revenues of $24.4 million a year.
One mill is defined as one dollar per $1,000 of assessed value.
While other tax renewals discussed are for 10 years, the DA is proposing a 20-year duration for this tax beginning this year and ending in 2044.
The ballot says, “… to be dedicated and used to provide funding for the office of the District Attorney for East Baton Rouge Parish.”
It does not specify how the funds will be used towards combating crime.
When looking at parish-wide taxes, for 2024 the total parish tax was 51.3 mills, the total East Baton Rouge Parish school millage rate was 43.45 mills and the total Baton Rouge city tax was 11.94 mills.
If the DA millage passes, the parish-wide tax would increase to 55.13 mills. This would add an additional $500 per year in new taxes based on a $200,000 home with the homestead exemption of $75,000 based on millage rates from 2024.
Apart from the new millage, the Central Community School Board is asking for borrowing power of up to $35 million by issuing bonds. Voters are being asked whether the school board should be allowed to borrow this money for construction and improvement projects. According to the ballot, the board will issue bonds that are repaid over 20 years by using property taxes already in place.
Many school districts in the parish are seeking tax renewals for the next 10 years.
School District No. 3 looks to continue levying a tax of 5.99 mills on all taxable property in the district. The tax is estimated to bring in around $32 million in one year. If passed, the tax would begin in 2027 and continue until 2036. The millage goes towards paying and improving salaries and benefits for public school employees.
School District No. 1 is also requesting a tax renewal, however at a much lower rate. The district wants to continue levying a tax of 0.72 mills on taxable property in the district. This is estimated at roughly $3.8 million a year for 10 years. This renewal would take place in 2027 and last until 2036.
If passed, the millage would help support the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Preventive Program of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board.
School District No. 4 is asking voters to renew a special tax of 4.98 mills on taxable property in the district, but this tax renewal would not happen until 2028. The millage, if passed, would renew for 10 years, ending in 2037. The millage gives additional support to public elementary and secondary schools and totals around $26.8 million for one year.
Two more school districts have millage renewals on the ballot— District No. 2 and District No. 5.
School District No. 2 seeks a renewal of their 1.04 mills on taxable property totaling $5.6 million a year.
District No. 5 seeks renewal of their 7.14 mills on taxable property totaling $38.5 million. Both would be for 10 years. However, District No. 2 would not renew until 2027 and end in 2036. District No. 5 would renew beginning in 2029 and end in 2038.
The millage renewal for District No. 2 would fund operating and maintaining the public school system. District No. 5 funds would give additional support to public elementary schools and secondary schools. The funds for District No. 2 would also go to improving and maintaining public school employee salaries and benefits.
