Update:In a 4-3 vote, the New Iberia City Council voted in favor of Councilman Raymond “Shoe Do” Lewis’s tax proposal.The half cent sales tax will last for one year. It’s expected to raise more than three million dollars in revenue.Lewis says the money will be used to put new roofs on recreational centers, buy new gear and a pump truck for the fire department, and get a street sweeper.

Sales tax proposals in New Iberia haven’t been able to clear the board in the past couple months. Now, one city councilman believes he has a plan to change the trend.

New Iberia District 5 Councilman Raymond Shoe Do Lewis has a sales tax proposal to present at Tuesday’s council meeting, but there’s one thing- he isn’t sharing his ideas with anyone until meeting time.

“It’s a matter of trust with the people that live within our city of New Iberia and it’s a matter of trust with my council colleagues,” says Raymond Shoe Do Lewis, District 5 councilman.

But, Lewis shared his plan exclusively with News 10. The goal is to put new roofs on recreational centers, supply the New Iberia fire department with new gear and a pump truck. Finally, a street sweeper, the city only has one in partially working condition.

Lewis’ proposal is almost identical to  the half cent sales tax by Mayor Hilda Curry, but according to him: “It’s specific, it’s for one year and coming from Shoe Do Lewis, the people can trust it.”

New Iberia Mayor, Hilda Curry says, she’s confident the council will approve of Lewis’ proposal.

“He certainly should vote for his own proposal, if he does and the other three council members did vote for the have said sales tax for one year, if they are still in favor of it then it should pass it would be placed on the ballot,” says the mayor.

Lewis officially revealed his plan at the 5:30 council meeting, if approved by the council and supported by the people, the half cent sales tax will last one year and is expected to raise 3,336,000 dollars in revenue.