Despite red ink, School Board nixes Property tax roll-up

Despite the superintendent's warning of possible school closures next year, the Iberville Parish School Board voted 4-10 Monday against rolling its property tax mileages up this year to shore up its sagging revenues.

School taxes, the largest on local tax bills, will remain 56.66 mills, the same as last year. More than half the total, 31 mills, is dedicated to the school construction program and salaries.

Superintendent P. Edward Cancienne Jr. recommended rolling up the board's 2011 millages to gain the temporary addition of 2.61 mills to the tax bill for this year only, for a total of 59.27 mills.

Nest year, Dr. Cancienne said, the board's levy would drop to 52.27 mills when a seven-mill maintenance tax, rejected by voters in April, goes off the books at the end of this year.

With only 19 percent of voters participating, the maintenance tax, which produces some $2.4 million a year failed by 116 votes. The board has made no move to put it back on the ballot.

“This is a tough step,” Cancienne said of rolling the millage rate forward. “If we do not push forward with this recommendation, I could have to cut one or two schools.”

Dr. Cancienne said he could not recommend cuts in personnel beyond the 100 school positions eliminated from this year's proposed $30 million operating budget.

The proposed budget he and Chief Financial Officer Jolain Landry submitted to the board Monday night also eliminates annual raises, or step increases, for teachers, for a savings of around half a million dollars, the superintendent said. He said the raises were among some $5 million in cuts.

The board will take up the budget at its next meeting, on September 12. It is available for inspection at the Central Office. Landry said it includes a $10 million deficit in operating revenues (that will be made up from account balances).

Despite Cancienne's warning, residents attending the board meeting questioned imposing the additional burden on taxpayers during the sagging economy.

“Property values have declined, so we will not be able to collect what we thought we would collect,” Landry told the group. “...These are taxes that you have approved as voters, and we cannot go any higher than the taxes that you all have approved.”

“I haven't gotten a raise in my job for several years,” one resident told the board, because of the economic downturn.

The Louisiana Constitution requires local taxing bodies to reduce their property tax millages when local property values rise and therefore forego any increased tax revenue.  A governing body, however, can vote to “roll up” the millage to the level approved by voters and capture the additional money, but only by a two-third vote.

So far, the Iberville Sheriff's Office, where Sheriff Brent Allain can make the decision, is the only one to roll up the taxes. The office maintains its millage at the voter-approved 22 mills, a spokeswoman said.

The Iberville Parish Council and the Iberville Parks and Recreation District are scheduled to act soon on their millage rates, but Plaquemine city officials have decided to leave theirs at 2010 levels. The city has a 4.85 mill general fund tax and two 2.76 mill taxes for the Plaquemine Police and building maintenance.

“We're not rolling ours up. We're leaving it the same,” Mayor Mark A. “Tony” Gulotta said. “It would generate a little more money, but we feel like we can do without it.

The financial officer also said that since next year is the year for reassessment of all property, no public bodies would be able to roll their millage rates forward.

Board Member Tom Delahaye of Plaquemine, said he was against rolling up the millages, but noted that it would raise an additional $1 million in revenues at a time the board is facing a $2.4 million loss in property taxes.

Delahaye said some board members “at least in the White Castle area” who were against the resolution needed to come forward with proposals to raise other revenues if they hoped to keep White Castle High School open.

“There are board members who are against, against, against without coming forward with any proposal,” Delahaye said.

“When I hear about a school being closed, I know what it feels like when our school was closed,” said Board Member Donald Ray Patterson of Maringouin, who was elected after his predecessor voted the School Board 8-7 to close North Iberville High School.  “I don't want to put that burden on anybody else.”

“Economic times are hard,” Board Member Albertha Hasten of White Castle said. “In White Castle, we don't have any stores or nothing.”

“We're not talking about a whole lot of money,” Board Member Darlene Ourso of White Castle said, adding that it seemed that schools in outlying areas were the ones called on for sacrifice.

The four members voting to roll up the taxes were Michael “Chief” Barbee, Paul B. Distefano and Glyna M. Kelley, all of Plaquemine, and Melvin Lodge of St. Gabriel.

Voting against were Nancy T. Broussard of St. Gabriel; Pam George of Grosse Tete; Donald Ray Patterson of Maringouin; Darlene Ourso, Alberta Hasten and Freddie “Sam” Molden III, all of Bayou Goula, and Tom Delahaye, Yolanda Laws, Dorothy Sansoni and Brian Willis, all of Plaquemine.

The roll-back rate of 56.66 mills includes a 3.49 mill constitutional tax, a 6.22 mill maintenance tax that will expire December 31, a 4.84 mill special maintenance tax, a 9.33 mill tax for salaries and benefits, a 1.78 mill tax to support the Iberville Optional Education (Op-Ed) Center and 31 mills for school construction and teachers' salaries.

The Iberville Parks and Recreation District (IPRD) Board of Directors will meet at 5:45 p.m. tonight (Thursday, August 11) in the lobby of the Carl F. Grant Civic Center to discuss rolling up its millage to capture an additional $121,061. The increase would be from $1,100,557 to an estimated $1,221,618.

Last year, IPRD asked the Iberville Parish Council to roll up the tax to supplement operating revenues, but was refused. Since then, the board has gotten a Louisiana Attorney General's Opinion that since IPRD was created as a separate taxing district, the board could decide to raise the millage by a two-thirds vote.

The Iberville Parish Council will consider rolling up its millages to garner an additional $244,685, an increase from $7,002,397 to $7,247,082.

The council has set a public hearing for 6 p.m. and will take up the measure at its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in its chambers on the second floor of the Courthouse.

Despite red ink,

School Board nixes

Property tax roll-up

By Deidre Cruse

Government Reporter

Despite the superintendent's warning of possible school closures next year, the Iberville Parish School Board voted 4-10 Monday against rolling its property tax mileages up this year to shore up its sagging revenues.

School taxes, the largest on local tax bills, will remain 56.66 mills, the same as last year. More than half the total, 31 mills, is dedicated to the school construction program and salaries.

Superintendent P. Edward Cancienne Jr. recommended rolling up the board's 2011 millages to gain the temporary addition of 2.61 mills to the tax bill for this year only, for a total of 59.27 mills.

Nest year, Dr. Cancienne said, the board's levy would drop to 52.27 mills when a seven-mill maintenance tax, rejected by voters in April, goes off the books at the end of this year.

With only 19 percent of voters participating, the maintenance tax, which produces some $2.4 million a year failed by 116 votes. The board has made no move to put it back on the ballot.

“This is a tough step,” Cancienne said of rolling the millage rate forward. “If we do not push forward with this recommendation, I could have to cut one or two schools.”

Dr. Cancienne said he could not recommend cuts in personnel beyond the 100 school positions eliminated from this year's proposed $30 million operating budget.

The proposed budget he and Chief Financial Officer Jolain Landry submitted to the board Monday night also eliminates annual raises, or step increases, for teachers, for a savings of around half a million dollars, the superintendent said. He said the raises were among some $5 million in cuts.

The board will take up the budget at its next meeting, on September 12. It is available for inspection at the Central Office. Landry said it includes a $10 million deficit in operating revenues (that will be made up from account balances).

Despite Cancienne's warning, residents attending the board meeting questioned imposing the additional burden on taxpayers during the sagging economy.

“Property values have declined, so we will not be able to collect what we thought we would collect,” Landry told the group. “...These are taxes that you have approved as voters, and we cannot go any higher than the taxes that you all have approved.”

“I haven't gotten a raise in my job for several years,” one resident told the board, because of the economic downturn.

The Louisiana Constitution requires local taxing bodies to reduce their property tax millages when local property values rise and therefore forego any increased tax revenue.  A governing body, however, can vote to “roll up” the millage to the level approved by voters and capture the additional money, but only by a two-third vote.

So far, the Iberville Sheriff's Office, where Sheriff Brent Allain can make the decision, is the only one to roll up the taxes. The office maintains its millage at the voter-approved 22 mills, a spokeswoman said.

The Iberville Parish Council and the Iberville Parks and Recreation District are scheduled to act soon on their millage rates, but Plaquemine city officials have decided to leave theirs at 2010 levels. The city has a 4.85 mill general fund tax and two 2.76 mill taxes for the Plaquemine Police and building maintenance.

“We're not rolling ours up. We're leaving it the same,” Mayor Mark A. “Tony” Gulotta said. “It would generate a little more money, but we feel like we can do without it.

The financial officer also said that since next year is the year for reassessment of all property, no public bodies would be able to roll their millage rates forward.

Board Member Tom Delahaye of Plaquemine, said he was against rolling up the millages, but noted that it would raise an additional $1 million in revenues at a time the board is facing a $2.4 million loss in property taxes.

Delahaye said some board members “at least in the White Castle area” who were against the resolution needed to come forward with proposals to raise other revenues if they hoped to keep White Castle High School open.

“There are board members who are against, against, against without coming forward with any proposal,” Delahaye said.

“When I hear about a school being closed, I know what it feels like when our school was closed,” said Board Member Donald Ray Patterson of Maringouin, who was elected after his predecessor voted the School Board 8-7 to close North Iberville High School.  “I don't want to put that burden on anybody else.”

“Economic times are hard,” Board Member Albertha Hasten of White Castle said. “In White Castle, we don't have any stores or nothing.”

“We're not talking about a whole lot of money,” Board Member Darlene Ourso of White Castle said, adding that it seemed that schools in outlying areas were the ones called on for sacrifice.

The four members voting to roll up the taxes were Michael “Chief” Barbee, Paul B. Distefano and Glyna M. Kelley, all of Plaquemine, and Melvin Lodge of St. Gabriel.

Voting against were Nancy T. Broussard of St. Gabriel; Pam George of Grosse Tete; Donald Ray Patterson of Maringouin; Darlene Ourso, Alberta Hasten and Freddie “Sam” Molden III, all of Bayou Goula, and Tom Delahaye, Yolanda Laws, Dorothy Sansoni and Brian Willis, all of Plaquemine.

The roll-back rate of 56.66 mills includes a 3.49 mill constitutional tax, a 6.22 mill maintenance tax that will expire December 31, a 4.84 mill special maintenance tax, a 9.33 mill tax for salaries and benefits, a 1.78 mill tax to support the Iberville Optional Education (Op-Ed) Center and 31 mills for school construction and teachers' salaries.

The Iberville Parks and Recreation District (IPRD) Board of Directors will meet at 5:45 p.m. tonight (Thursday, August 11) in the lobby of the Carl F. Grant Civic Center to discuss rolling up its millage to capture an additional $121,061. The increase would be from $1,100,557 to an estimated $1,221,618.

Last year, IPRD asked the Iberville Parish Council to roll up the tax to supplement operating revenues, but was refused. Since then, the board has gotten a Louisiana Attorney General's Opinion that since IPRD was created as a separate taxing district, the board could decide to raise the millage by a two-thirds vote.

The Iberville Parish Council will consider rolling up its millages to garner an additional $244,685, an increase from $7,002,397 to $7,247,082.

The council has set a public hearing for 6 p.m. and will take up the measure at its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in its chambers on the second floor of the Courthouse.

Despite red ink,

School Board nixes

Property tax roll-up

By Deidre Cruse

Government Reporter

Despite the superintendent's warning of possible school closures next year, the Iberville Parish School Board voted 4-10 Monday against rolling its property tax mileages up this year to shore up its sagging revenues.

School taxes, the largest on local tax bills, will remain 56.66 mills, the same as last year. More than half the total, 31 mills, is dedicated to the school construction program and salaries.

Superintendent P. Edward Cancienne Jr. recommended rolling up the board's 2011 millages to gain the temporary addition of 2.61 mills to the tax bill for this year only, for a total of 59.27 mills.

Nest year, Dr. Cancienne said, the board's levy would drop to 52.27 mills when a seven-mill maintenance tax, rejected by voters in April, goes off the books at the end of this year.

With only 19 percent of voters participating, the maintenance tax, which produces some $2.4 million a year failed by 116 votes. The board has made no move to put it back on the ballot.

“This is a tough step,” Cancienne said of rolling the millage rate forward. “If we do not push forward with this recommendation, I could have to cut one or two schools.”

Dr. Cancienne said he could not recommend cuts in personnel beyond the 100 school positions eliminated from this year's proposed $30 million operating budget.

The proposed budget he and Chief Financial Officer Jolain Landry submitted to the board Monday night also eliminates annual raises, or step increases, for teachers, for a savings of around half a million dollars, the superintendent said. He said the raises were among some $5 million in cuts.

The board will take up the budget at its next meeting, on September 12. It is available for inspection at the Central Office. Landry said it includes a $10 million deficit in operating revenues (that will be made up from account balances).

Despite Cancienne's warning, residents attending the board meeting questioned imposing the additional burden on taxpayers during the sagging economy.

“Property values have declined, so we will not be able to collect what we thought we would collect,” Landry told the group. “...These are taxes that you have approved as voters, and we cannot go any higher than the taxes that you all have approved.”

“I haven't gotten a raise in my job for several years,” one resident told the board, because of the economic downturn.

The Louisiana Constitution requires local taxing bodies to reduce their property tax millages when local property values rise and therefore forego any increased tax revenue.  A governing body, however, can vote to “roll up” the millage to the level approved by voters and capture the additional money, but only by a two-third vote.

So far, the Iberville Sheriff's Office, where Sheriff Brent Allain can make the decision, is the only one to roll up the taxes. The office maintains its millage at the voter-approved 22 mills, a spokeswoman said.

The Iberville Parish Council and the Iberville Parks and Recreation District are scheduled to act soon on their millage rates, but Plaquemine city officials have decided to leave theirs at 2010 levels. The city has a 4.85 mill general fund tax and two 2.76 mill taxes for the Plaquemine Police and building maintenance.

“We're not rolling ours up. We're leaving it the same,” Mayor Mark A. “Tony” Gulotta said. “It would generate a little more money, but we feel like we can do without it.

The financial officer also said that since next year is the year for reassessment of all property, no public bodies would be able to roll their millage rates forward.

Board Member Tom Delahaye of Plaquemine, said he was against rolling up the millages, but noted that it would raise an additional $1 million in revenues at a time the board is facing a $2.4 million loss in property taxes.

Delahaye said some board members “at least in the White Castle area” who were against the resolution needed to come forward with proposals to raise other revenues if they hoped to keep White Castle High School open.

“There are board members who are against, against, against without coming forward with any proposal,” Delahaye said.

“When I hear about a school being closed, I know what it feels like when our school was closed,” said Board Member Donald Ray Patterson of Maringouin, who was elected after his predecessor voted the School Board 8-7 to close North Iberville High School.  “I don't want to put that burden on anybody else.”

“Economic times are hard,” Board Member Albertha Hasten of White Castle said. “In White Castle, we don't have any stores or nothing.”

“We're not talking about a whole lot of money,” Board Member Darlene Ourso of White Castle said, adding that it seemed that schools in outlying areas were the ones called on for sacrifice.

The four members voting to roll up the taxes were Michael “Chief” Barbee, Paul B. Distefano and Glyna M. Kelley, all of Plaquemine, and Melvin Lodge of St. Gabriel.

Voting against were Nancy T. Broussard of St. Gabriel; Pam George of Grosse Tete; Donald Ray Patterson of Maringouin; Darlene Ourso, Alberta Hasten and Freddie “Sam” Molden III, all of Bayou Goula, and Tom Delahaye, Yolanda Laws, Dorothy Sansoni and Brian Willis, all of Plaquemine.

The roll-back rate of 56.66 mills includes a 3.49 mill constitutional tax, a 6.22 mill maintenance tax that will expire December 31, a 4.84 mill special maintenance tax, a 9.33 mill tax for salaries and benefits, a 1.78 mill tax to support the Iberville Optional Education (Op-Ed) Center and 31 mills for school construction and teachers' salaries.

The Iberville Parks and Recreation District (IPRD) Board of Directors will meet at 5:45 p.m. tonight (Thursday, August 11) in the lobby of the Carl F. Grant Civic Center to discuss rolling up its millage to capture an additional $121,061. The increase would be from $1,100,557 to an estimated $1,221,618.

Last year, IPRD asked the Iberville Parish Council to roll up the tax to supplement operating revenues, but was refused. Since then, the board has gotten a Louisiana Attorney General's Opinion that since IPRD was created as a separate taxing district, the board could decide to raise the millage by a two-thirds vote.

The Iberville Parish Council will consider rolling up its millages to garner an additional $244,685, an increase from $7,002,397 to $7,247,082.

The council has set a public hearing for 6 p.m. and will take up the measure at its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in its chambers on the second floor of the Courthouse.

Despite red ink,

School Board nixes

Property tax roll-up

By Deidre Cruse

Government Reporter

Despite the superintendent's warning of possible school closures next year, the Iberville Parish School Board voted 4-10 Monday against rolling its property tax mileages up this year to shore up its sagging revenues.

School taxes, the largest on local tax bills, will remain 56.66 mills, the same as last year. More than half the total, 31 mills, is dedicated to the school construction program and salaries.

Superintendent P. Edward Cancienne Jr. recommended rolling up the board's 2011 millages to gain the temporary addition of 2.61 mills to the tax bill for this year only, for a total of 59.27 mills.

Nest year, Dr. Cancienne said, the board's levy would drop to 52.27 mills when a seven-mill maintenance tax, rejected by voters in April, goes off the books at the end of this year.

With only 19 percent of voters participating, the maintenance tax, which produces some $2.4 million a year failed by 116 votes. The board has made no move to put it back on the ballot.

“This is a tough step,” Cancienne said of rolling the millage rate forward. “If we do not push forward with this recommendation, I could have to cut one or two schools.”

Dr. Cancienne said he could not recommend cuts in personnel beyond the 100 school positions eliminated from this year's proposed $30 million operating budget.

The proposed budget he and Chief Financial Officer Jolain Landry submitted to the board Monday night also eliminates annual raises, or step increases, for teachers, for a savings of around half a million dollars, the superintendent said. He said the raises were among some $5 million in cuts.

The board will take up the budget at its next meeting, on September 12. It is available for inspection at the Central Office. Landry said it includes a $10 million deficit in operating revenues (that will be made up from account balances).

Despite Cancienne's warning, residents attending the board meeting questioned imposing the additional burden on taxpayers during the sagging economy.

“Property values have declined, so we will not be able to collect what we thought we would collect,” Landry told the group. “...These are taxes that you have approved as voters, and we cannot go any higher than the taxes that you all have approved.”

“I haven't gotten a raise in my job for several years,” one resident told the board, because of the economic downturn.

The Louisiana Constitution requires local taxing bodies to reduce their property tax millages when local property values rise and therefore forego any increased tax revenue.  A governing body, however, can vote to “roll up” the millage to the level approved by voters and capture the additional money, but only by a two-third vote.

So far, the Iberville Sheriff's Office, where Sheriff Brent Allain can make the decision, is the only one to roll up the taxes. The office maintains its millage at the voter-approved 22 mills, a spokeswoman said.

The Iberville Parish Council and the Iberville Parks and Recreation District are scheduled to act soon on their millage rates, but Plaquemine city officials have decided to leave theirs at 2010 levels. The city has a 4.85 mill general fund tax and two 2.76 mill taxes for the Plaquemine Police and building maintenance.

“We're not rolling ours up. We're leaving it the same,” Mayor Mark A. “Tony” Gulotta said. “It would generate a little more money, but we feel like we can do without it.

The financial officer also said that since next year is the year for reassessment of all property, no public bodies would be able to roll their millage rates forward.

Board Member Tom Delahaye of Plaquemine, said he was against rolling up the millages, but noted that it would raise an additional $1 million in revenues at a time the board is facing a $2.4 million loss in property taxes.

Delahaye said some board members “at least in the White Castle area” who were against the resolution needed to come forward with proposals to raise other revenues if they hoped to keep White Castle High School open.

“There are board members who are against, against, against without coming forward with any proposal,” Delahaye said.

“When I hear about a school being closed, I know what it feels like when our school was closed,” said Board Member Donald Ray Patterson of Maringouin, who was elected after his predecessor voted the School Board 8-7 to close North Iberville High School.  “I don't want to put that burden on anybody else.”

“Economic times are hard,” Board Member Albertha Hasten of White Castle said. “In White Castle, we don't have any stores or nothing.”

“We're not talking about a whole lot of money,” Board Member Darlene Ourso of White Castle said, adding that it seemed that schools in outlying areas were the ones called on for sacrifice.

The four members voting to roll up the taxes were Michael “Chief” Barbee, Paul B. Distefano and Glyna M. Kelley, all of Plaquemine, and Melvin Lodge of St. Gabriel.

Voting against were Nancy T. Broussard of St. Gabriel; Pam George of Grosse Tete; Donald Ray Patterson of Maringouin; Darlene Ourso, Alberta Hasten and Freddie “Sam” Molden III, all of Bayou Goula, and Tom Delahaye, Yolanda Laws, Dorothy Sansoni and Brian Willis, all of Plaquemine.

The roll-back rate of 56.66 mills includes a 3.49 mill constitutional tax, a 6.22 mill maintenance tax that will expire December 31, a 4.84 mill special maintenance tax, a 9.33 mill tax for salaries and benefits, a 1.78 mill tax to support the Iberville Optional Education (Op-Ed) Center and 31 mills for school construction and teachers' salaries.

The Iberville Parks and Recreation District (IPRD) Board of Directors will meet at 5:45 p.m. tonight (Thursday, August 11) in the lobby of the Carl F. Grant Civic Center to discuss rolling up its millage to capture an additional $121,061. The increase would be from $1,100,557 to an estimated $1,221,618.

Last year, IPRD asked the Iberville Parish Council to roll up the tax to supplement operating revenues, but was refused. Since then, the board has gotten a Louisiana Attorney General's Opinion that since IPRD was created as a separate taxing district, the board could decide to raise the millage by a two-thirds vote.

The Iberville Parish Council will consider rolling up its millages to garner an additional $244,685, an increase from $7,002,397 to $7,247,082.

The council has set a public hearing for 6 p.m. and will take up the measure at its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in its chambers on the second floor of the Courthouse.

Despite red ink,

School Board nixes

Property tax roll-up

By Deidre Cruse

Government Reporter

Despite the superintendent's warning of possible school closures next year, the Iberville Parish School Board voted 4-10 Monday against rolling its property tax mileages up this year to shore up its sagging revenues.

School taxes, the largest on local tax bills, will remain 56.66 mills, the same as last year. More than half the total, 31 mills, is dedicated to the school construction program and salaries.

Superintendent P. Edward Cancienne Jr. recommended rolling up the board's 2011 millages to gain the temporary addition of 2.61 mills to the tax bill for this year only, for a total of 59.27 mills.

Nest year, Dr. Cancienne said, the board's levy would drop to 52.27 mills when a seven-mill maintenance tax, rejected by voters in April, goes off the books at the end of this year.

With only 19 percent of voters participating, the maintenance tax, which produces some $2.4 million a year failed by 116 votes. The board has made no move to put it back on the ballot.

“This is a tough step,” Cancienne said of rolling the millage rate forward. “If we do not push forward with this recommendation, I could have to cut one or two schools.”

Dr. Cancienne said he could not recommend cuts in personnel beyond the 100 school positions eliminated from this year's proposed $30 million operating budget.

The proposed budget he and Chief Financial Officer Jolain Landry submitted to the board Monday night also eliminates annual raises, or step increases, for teachers, for a savings of around half a million dollars, the superintendent said. He said the raises were among some $5 million in cuts.

The board will take up the budget at its next meeting, on September 12. It is available for inspection at the Central Office. Landry said it includes a $10 million deficit in operating revenues (that will be made up from account balances).

Despite Cancienne's warning, residents attending the board meeting questioned imposing the additional burden on taxpayers during the sagging economy.

“Property values have declined, so we will not be able to collect what we thought we would collect,” Landry told the group. “...These are taxes that you have approved as voters, and we cannot go any higher than the taxes that you all have approved.”

“I haven't gotten a raise in my job for several years,” one resident told the board, because of the economic downturn.

The Louisiana Constitution requires local taxing bodies to reduce their property tax millages when local property values rise and therefore forego any increased tax revenue.  A governing body, however, can vote to “roll up” the millage to the level approved by voters and capture the additional money, but only by a two-third vote.

So far, the Iberville Sheriff's Office, where Sheriff Brent Allain can make the decision, is the only one to roll up the taxes. The office maintains its millage at the voter-approved 22 mills, a spokeswoman said.

The Iberville Parish Council and the Iberville Parks and Recreation District are scheduled to act soon on their millage rates, but Plaquemine city officials have decided to leave theirs at 2010 levels. The city has a 4.85 mill general fund tax and two 2.76 mill taxes for the Plaquemine Police and building maintenance.

“We're not rolling ours up. We're leaving it the same,” Mayor Mark A. “Tony” Gulotta said. “It would generate a little more money, but we feel like we can do without it.

The financial officer also said that since next year is the year for reassessment of all property, no public bodies would be able to roll their millage rates forward.

Board Member Tom Delahaye of Plaquemine, said he was against rolling up the millages, but noted that it would raise an additional $1 million in revenues at a time the board is facing a $2.4 million loss in property taxes.

Delahaye said some board members “at least in the White Castle area” who were against the resolution needed to come forward with proposals to raise other revenues if they hoped to keep White Castle High School open.

“There are board members who are against, against, against without coming forward with any proposal,” Delahaye said.

“When I hear about a school being closed, I know what it feels like when our school was closed,” said Board Member Donald Ray Patterson of Maringouin, who was elected after his predecessor voted the School Board 8-7 to close North Iberville High School.  “I don't want to put that burden on anybody else.”

“Economic times are hard,” Board Member Albertha Hasten of White Castle said. “In White Castle, we don't have any stores or nothing.”

“We're not talking about a whole lot of money,” Board Member Darlene Ourso of White Castle said, adding that it seemed that schools in outlying areas were the ones called on for sacrifice.

The four members voting to roll up the taxes were Michael “Chief” Barbee, Paul B. Distefano and Glyna M. Kelley, all of Plaquemine, and Melvin Lodge of St. Gabriel.

Voting against were Nancy T. Broussard of St. Gabriel; Pam George of Grosse Tete; Donald Ray Patterson of Maringouin; Darlene Ourso, Alberta Hasten and Freddie “Sam” Molden III, all of Bayou Goula, and Tom Delahaye, Yolanda Laws, Dorothy Sansoni and Brian Willis, all of Plaquemine.

The roll-back rate of 56.66 mills includes a 3.49 mill constitutional tax, a 6.22 mill maintenance tax that will expire December 31, a 4.84 mill special maintenance tax, a 9.33 mill tax for salaries and benefits, a 1.78 mill tax to support the Iberville Optional Education (Op-Ed) Center and 31 mills for school construction and teachers' salaries.

The Iberville Parks and Recreation District (IPRD) Board of Directors will meet at 5:45 p.m. tonight (Thursday, August 11) in the lobby of the Carl F. Grant Civic Center to discuss rolling up its millage to capture an additional $121,061. The increase would be from $1,100,557 to an estimated $1,221,618.

Last year, IPRD asked the Iberville Parish Council to roll up the tax to supplement operating revenues, but was refused. Since then, the board has gotten a Louisiana Attorney General's Opinion that since IPRD was created as a separate taxing district, the board could decide to raise the millage by a two-thirds vote.

The Iberville Parish Council will consider rolling up its millages to garner an additional $244,685, an increase from $7,002,397 to $7,247,082.

The council has set a public hearing for 6 p.m. and will take up the measure at its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in its chambers on the second floor of the Courthouse.

Despite red ink,

School Board nixes

Property tax roll-up

By Deidre Cruse

Government Reporter

Despite the superintendent's warning of possible school closures next year, the Iberville Parish School Board voted 4-10 Monday against rolling its property tax mileages up this year to shore up its sagging revenues.

School taxes, the largest on local tax bills, will remain 56.66 mills, the same as last year. More than half the total, 31 mills, is dedicated to the school construction program and salaries.

Superintendent P. Edward Cancienne Jr. recommended rolling up the board's 2011 millages to gain the temporary addition of 2.61 mills to the tax bill for this year only, for a total of 59.27 mills.

Nest year, Dr. Cancienne said, the board's levy would drop to 52.27 mills when a seven-mill maintenance tax, rejected by voters in April, goes off the books at the end of this year.

With only 19 percent of voters participating, the maintenance tax, which produces some $2.4 million a year failed by 116 votes. The board has made no move to put it back on the ballot.

“This is a tough step,” Cancienne said of rolling the millage rate forward. “If we do not push forward with this recommendation, I could have to cut one or two schools.”

Dr. Cancienne said he could not recommend cuts in personnel beyond the 100 school positions eliminated from this year's proposed $30 million operating budget.

The proposed budget he and Chief Financial Officer Jolain Landry submitted to the board Monday night also eliminates annual raises, or step increases, for teachers, for a savings of around half a million dollars, the superintendent said. He said the raises were among some $5 million in cuts.

The board will take up the budget at its next meeting, on September 12. It is available for inspection at the Central Office. Landry said it includes a $10 million deficit in operating revenues (that will be made up from account balances).

Despite Cancienne's warning, residents attending the board meeting questioned imposing the additional burden on taxpayers during the sagging economy.

“Property values have declined, so we will not be able to collect what we thought we would collect,” Landry told the group. “...These are taxes that you have approved as voters, and we cannot go any higher than the taxes that you all have approved.”

“I haven't gotten a raise in my job for several years,” one resident told the board, because of the economic downturn.

The Louisiana Constitution requires local taxing bodies to reduce their property tax millages when local property values rise and therefore forego any increased tax revenue.  A governing body, however, can vote to “roll up” the millage to the level approved by voters and capture the additional money, but only by a two-third vote.

So far, the Iberville Sheriff's Office, where Sheriff Brent Allain can make the decision, is the only one to roll up the taxes. The office maintains its millage at the voter-approved 22 mills, a spokeswoman said.

The Iberville Parish Council and the Iberville Parks and Recreation District are scheduled to act soon on their millage rates, but Plaquemine city officials have decided to leave theirs at 2010 levels. The city has a 4.85 mill general fund tax and two 2.76 mill taxes for the Plaquemine Police and building maintenance.

“We're not rolling ours up. We're leaving it the same,” Mayor Mark A. “Tony” Gulotta said. “It would generate a little more money, but we feel like we can do without it.

The financial officer also said that since next year is the year for reassessment of all property, no public bodies would be able to roll their millage rates forward.

Board Member Tom Delahaye of Plaquemine, said he was against rolling up the millages, but noted that it would raise an additional $1 million in revenues at a time the board is facing a $2.4 million loss in property taxes.

Delahaye said some board members “at least in the White Castle area” who were against the resolution needed to come forward with proposals to raise other revenues if they hoped to keep White Castle High School open.

“There are board members who are against, against, against without coming forward with any proposal,” Delahaye said.

“When I hear about a school being closed, I know what it feels like when our school was closed,” said Board Member Donald Ray Patterson of Maringouin, who was elected after his predecessor voted the School Board 8-7 to close North Iberville High School.  “I don't want to put that burden on anybody else.”

“Economic times are hard,” Board Member Albertha Hasten of White Castle said. “In White Castle, we don't have any stores or nothing.”

“We're not talking about a whole lot of money,” Board Member Darlene Ourso of White Castle said, adding that it seemed that schools in outlying areas were the ones called on for sacrifice.

The four members voting to roll up the taxes were Michael “Chief” Barbee, Paul B. Distefano and Glyna M. Kelley, all of Plaquemine, and Melvin Lodge of St. Gabriel.

Voting against were Nancy T. Broussard of St. Gabriel; Pam George of Grosse Tete; Donald Ray Patterson of Maringouin; Darlene Ourso, Alberta Hasten and Freddie “Sam” Molden III, all of Bayou Goula, and Tom Delahaye, Yolanda Laws, Dorothy Sansoni and Brian Willis, all of Plaquemine.

The roll-back rate of 56.66 mills includes a 3.49 mill constitutional tax, a 6.22 mill maintenance tax that will expire December 31, a 4.84 mill special maintenance tax, a 9.33 mill tax for salaries and benefits, a 1.78 mill tax to support the Iberville Optional Education (Op-Ed) Center and 31 mills for school construction and teachers' salaries.

The Iberville Parks and Recreation District (IPRD) Board of Directors will meet at 5:45 p.m. tonight (Thursday, August 11) in the lobby of the Carl F. Grant Civic Center to discuss rolling up its millage to capture an additional $121,061. The increase would be from $1,100,557 to an estimated $1,221,618.

Last year, IPRD asked the Iberville Parish Council to roll up the tax to supplement operating revenues, but was refused. Since then, the board has gotten a Louisiana Attorney General's Opinion that since IPRD was created as a separate taxing district, the board could decide to raise the millage by a two-thirds vote.

The Iberville Parish Council will consider rolling up its millages to garner an additional $244,685, an increase from $7,002,397 to $7,247,082.

The council has set a public hearing for 6 p.m. and will take up the measure at its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in its chambers on the second floor of the Courthouse.

Despite red ink,

School Board nixes

Property tax roll-up

By Deidre Cruse

Government Reporter

Despite the superintendent's warning of possible school closures next year, the Iberville Parish School Board voted 4-10 Monday against rolling its property tax mileages up this year to shore up its sagging revenues.

School taxes, the largest on local tax bills, will remain 56.66 mills, the same as last year. More than half the total, 31 mills, is dedicated to the school construction program and salaries.

Superintendent P. Edward Cancienne Jr. recommended rolling up the board's 2011 millages to gain the temporary addition of 2.61 mills to the tax bill for this year only, for a total of 59.27 mills.

Nest year, Dr. Cancienne said, the board's levy would drop to 52.27 mills when a seven-mill maintenance tax, rejected by voters in April, goes off the books at the end of this year.

With only 19 percent of voters participating, the maintenance tax, which produces some $2.4 million a year failed by 116 votes. The board has made no move to put it back on the ballot.

“This is a tough step,” Cancienne said of rolling the millage rate forward. “If we do not push forward with this recommendation, I could have to cut one or two schools.”

Dr. Cancienne said he could not recommend cuts in personnel beyond the 100 school positions eliminated from this year's proposed $30 million operating budget.

The proposed budget he and Chief Financial Officer Jolain Landry submitted to the board Monday night also eliminates annual raises, or step increases, for teachers, for a savings of around half a million dollars, the superintendent said. He said the raises were among some $5 million in cuts.

The board will take up the budget at its next meeting, on September 12. It is available for inspection at the Central Office. Landry said it includes a $10 million deficit in operating revenues (that will be made up from account balances).

Despite Cancienne's warning, residents attending the board meeting questioned imposing the additional burden on taxpayers during the sagging economy.

“Property values have declined, so we will not be able to collect what we thought we would collect,” Landry told the group. “...These are taxes that you have approved as voters, and we cannot go any higher than the taxes that you all have approved.”

“I haven't gotten a raise in my job for several years,” one resident told the board, because of the economic downturn.

The Louisiana Constitution requires local taxing bodies to reduce their property tax millages when local property values rise and therefore forego any increased tax revenue.  A governing body, however, can vote to “roll up” the millage to the level approved by voters and capture the additional money, but only by a two-third vote.

So far, the Iberville Sheriff's Office, where Sheriff Brent Allain can make the decision, is the only one to roll up the taxes. The office maintains its millage at the voter-approved 22 mills, a spokeswoman said.

The Iberville Parish Council and the Iberville Parks and Recreation District are scheduled to act soon on their millage rates, but Plaquemine city officials have decided to leave theirs at 2010 levels. The city has a 4.85 mill general fund tax and two 2.76 mill taxes for the Plaquemine Police and building maintenance.

“We're not rolling ours up. We're leaving it the same,” Mayor Mark A. “Tony” Gulotta said. “It would generate a little more money, but we feel like we can do without it.

The financial officer also said that since next year is the year for reassessment of all property, no public bodies would be able to roll their millage rates forward.

Board Member Tom Delahaye of Plaquemine, said he was against rolling up the millages, but noted that it would raise an additional $1 million in revenues at a time the board is facing a $2.4 million loss in property taxes.

Delahaye said some board members “at least in the White Castle area” who were against the resolution needed to come forward with proposals to raise other revenues if they hoped to keep White Castle High School open.

“There are board members who are against, against, against without coming forward with any proposal,” Delahaye said.

“When I hear about a school being closed, I know what it feels like when our school was closed,” said Board Member Donald Ray Patterson of Maringouin, who was elected after his predecessor voted the School Board 8-7 to close North Iberville High School.  “I don't want to put that burden on anybody else.”

“Economic times are hard,” Board Member Albertha Hasten of White Castle said. “In White Castle, we don't have any stores or nothing.”

“We're not talking about a whole lot of money,” Board Member Darlene Ourso of White Castle said, adding that it seemed that schools in outlying areas were the ones called on for sacrifice.

The four members voting to roll up the taxes were Michael “Chief” Barbee, Paul B. Distefano and Glyna M. Kelley, all of Plaquemine, and Melvin Lodge of St. Gabriel.

Voting against were Nancy T. Broussard of St. Gabriel; Pam George of Grosse Tete; Donald Ray Patterson of Maringouin; Darlene Ourso, Alberta Hasten and Freddie “Sam” Molden III, all of Bayou Goula, and Tom Delahaye, Yolanda Laws, Dorothy Sansoni and Brian Willis, all of Plaquemine.

The roll-back rate of 56.66 mills includes a 3.49 mill constitutional tax, a 6.22 mill maintenance tax that will expire December 31, a 4.84 mill special maintenance tax, a 9.33 mill tax for salaries and benefits, a 1.78 mill tax to support the Iberville Optional Education (Op-Ed) Center and 31 mills for school construction and teachers' salaries.

The Iberville Parks and Recreation District (IPRD) Board of Directors will meet at 5:45 p.m. tonight (Thursday, August 11) in the lobby of the Carl F. Grant Civic Center to discuss rolling up its millage to capture an additional $121,061. The increase would be from $1,100,557 to an estimated $1,221,618.

Last year, IPRD asked the Iberville Parish Council to roll up the tax to supplement operating revenues, but was refused. Since then, the board has gotten a Louisiana Attorney General's Opinion that since IPRD was created as a separate taxing district, the board could decide to raise the millage by a two-thirds vote.

The Iberville Parish Council will consider rolling up its millages to garner an additional $244,685, an increase from $7,002,397 to $7,247,082.

The council has set a public hearing for 6 p.m. and will take up the measure at its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in its chambers on the second floor of the Courthouse.