LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – Since last April (2017) and including the upcoming election on December 8, Lafayette Parish voters will have faced 20 Tax proposals in just 15 months.
6 of those taxes failed before voters.
That includes two recent proposals that were on the November 6 ballot.
The taxes would’ve generated additional funding for the Courthouse and the Jail.
On the December 8 ballot, voters will decide the fate of 3 Propositions, including 2 Taxes.
Those taxes are the Law Enforcement District Proposition & the Lafayette Rural Fire District Proposition.
Along with a Proposition that would create a separate City and Parish Council in Lafayette.
But how does the passing or failing of these taxes impact the local economy?
“The problem with increasing taxes or tax rates, is that consumers, households & businesses have less money to spend. But if you cut tax rates, government has less money,” said Dr. Carey Heath, Department Head of Economics and Finance at University of Louisiana.
Heath says economics is all about ‘trade-offs.’
Meaning if money goes in one direction, it doesn’t go in the other.
And frankly these taxes are all about what voters want…
“If government has more money to spend on goods and services that we want to expect, we as households and individuals, have less money to spend on goods that we want,” said Heath.
“They’re (people) saying, ‘What’s going on with all these taxes on the ballot?’ But that’s really what everybody’s wondering, why can’t they (government) figure out another way,” said Michael Lunsford, with Citizens for a New Louisiana.
The group looks to find the truth in taxation within Lafayette Parish.
Lunsford believes voters are tired of having to go to the polls, among other reasons as to why the taxes are failing.
“Low trust in government overall. They (government officials) keep asking for taxes. You know when you keep asking, asking, asking, it’s kind of a reflex now, ‘No.’ And of course transparency,” said Lunsford.
Dr. Heath says that when the government has more revenue, they can make improvements to things like infrastructure, education and basic services people need and expect.
But there can also be negative effects to more taxes he says…
“The cons are, that if you get that tax revenue by imposing brand new taxes or raising tax rates, you can in the long term, choke off business investment and slow economic growth. So there’s a sort of long term damage you have to worry about,” said Heath.
On November 16, 2018, Sheriff Mark Garber recorded a Resolution, with the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court, Louis Perret, regarding the 1/2 cent sales tax proposition on the December 8, 2018 ballot.
The Resolution establishes a covenant with the voters of Lafayette Parish and outlines the Sheriff’s plan for using the revenue the tax would generate.
Also voters who live in the un-incorporated parts of the Parish, will vote on the 10-mill Fire Tax, which would raise about $4 million annually, for numerous Volunteer Fire Departments in the Parish.
The upcoming election is set for December 8.
To find a sample ballot, visit this link.
