Photograph: Lena Charles in Discussion with Bill Rodier and Don D’Avy (Photograph by Bobby Ardoin)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Further discussion pertaining to a proposed redesign funding for athletic facilities at South City Park has been discontinued at least until after the 2023 football season, according to Opelousas Downtown Development District chairperson Lena Charles.
Charles made the announcement following the most recent District meeting in which projected costs associated with the project were discussed. In addition appointed District members also debated at some length whether it was more appropriate to fund the project with available sales tax money collected by the DDD, or whether it might be more financially appropriate to apply for State Bond Commission assistance.
A review of current DDD finances discussed at the meeting indicates the District has about $2.8 million available. Some of that funding could potentially be used for refurbishing Donald Gardner Stadium, constructing an eight-lane outdoor track encircling the facility, creating additional parking spaces and other Phase 1 projects in the park area.
Elizabeth Brooks, a consultant hired by the DDD to help guide the South Park Master Plan concept, told District members at the meeting that total costs for Phase 1 could reach as much as $5.5 million. Those costs Brooks said during a conference call, include park entrances, stadium refurbishing, parking, the track and field, artificial turf for football and soccer, moving the visitors bleachers and new lighting.
Brooks also reminded the DDD members that the cost of construction materials has been escalating and probably will continue.
No Mention Of TIF Funding.
The DDD however did not discuss the February monthly meeting agenda item that included possibly creating Tax Inducement Funding along Creswell Lane in order to help pay for the maintenance and supervisory costs for the South Park project.
TIF Districts are ordinarily created to provide additional funding for specified projects.According to an interview with Charles following the February meeting, some DDD members proposed increasing the amount of sales tax now collected in stores located along Creswell by an unspecified amount. The DDD however took no action on the TIF discussion in February.
Charles said during the interview that some members of the DDD feel that since one of the Creswell traffic lanes empties into the Donald Gardner Stadium parking lot that it would be possible to collect more sales tax in stores located along Creswell Lane. There was no TIF item on the March DDD meeting agenda.
How Will The DDD Fund The Project
DDD members have already indicated that they plan to fund the South Park project with a portion of sales tax revenue the District has been collecting from nationally-recognized chain stores in designated areas of Opelousas. At this point the DDD has indicated that at least $2.5 million could be available in District funding to support the South Park project. There is also $500,000 available in American Rescue Act funding from parish government in order to help pay for the project, according to parish president Jessie Bellard.
DDD members Keith Broussard and Pat Fontenot indicated that they differ on how the DDD would spend its portion of the South Park funding. Broussard said at this point he proposes using available District revenues rather than requesting bonding assistance which would require a DDD payout over an unspecified number of years.”If we have the funds, what’s wrong with using them rather than paying (for the project) over the next 20 years? Broussard asked.
Fontenot pointed out that the District currently does not have enough funding to provide the financial assistance necessary for Phase 1.It’s also not uncommon Fontenot also said, for public officials to request bond money that is used for capital outlay projects.
