A temporary sales or property tax could show up on a future ballot in hopes of finding a way to pay for some of the deteriorating roadways and bridges in Lafayette Parish. First, it has to be approved by the parish council.

A citizen committee is considering a recommendation that the Lafayette City Parish council ask voters for either a temporary sales tax or increased property tax to fund road and bridge projects around the parish. In an LCG meeting, Public Works Director Kevin Blanchard said the parish had only a 300,000 dollar budget last year for road work, what he says is enough to cover half of one road.

Some residents say they would be willing to pay a tax if that’s what it took.

“Yes. I would if they would stop going up on things like beer tax and tobacco tax and use the tax for proper things like road repair,” says resident Wayne Cormier. But, Cormier says, the temporary sales tax is the better option of the two. “Property tax is high enough, I say just pass a tax for road repair.”

Property owners in the city of Lafayette already pay a tax for street maintenance and part of a sales tax that is collected in Lafayette.

The sales tax goes towards building bridges and roadways in the city. A parish wide property tax is collected from residents but according to LCG; its’ only spent on unincorporated parts not within the actual city. A reason why some residents think the money needs to come from somewhere else.

“I definitely think we are taxed enough as it is. I think they could find the money elsewhere in my opinion,” says residents Christopher Henry.

The committee says they are not taking the recommendation to the council until after November elections.