Photograph: Opelousas Aldermen at Opelousas Council Meeting (Photograph by Freddie Herpin)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Opelousas residents who own property inside the corporate limits are being asked on Nov. 18 to approve an additional property millage that is proposed for providing the city with an assortment of additional revenues.
The Board of Aldermen authorized the annual 20-mill ballot proposal that if passed, will be dedicated for citywide infrastructure, police, firemen, marshal office and court system.
If approved the millage would provide an estimated $3.29 million annually over a 10-year period beginning in 2024.
Board Attorney Travis Broussard read the ballot proposition during the meeting. None of the Board commented on the matter.
During a Budget Committee meeting Aug. 1, committee chairman Charles Cummings said that Opelousas property owners are now paying seven mills annually in property taxes, an amount that Cummings indicated is considerably lower compared to surrounding municipalities that are collecting high yearly amounts.
“Towns like (Opelousas) are collecting about 30 mills. That’s why we (Opelousas) are hurting now. Our millage rate is too low. This (millage) needs to pass for the city to move forward,” Cummings said during Aug. 1 the committee meeting..
City officials are currently attempting to find ways to provide city employee pay raises. Cummings said that if approved by voters, the additional millage would help augment the salaries of city workers.
At the meeting on Tuesday night, fire chief Byron Chavis told the Board that he has been unable to fill six municipal firefighter positions due to inadequate starting salaries.
