A special called meeting of the Vernon Parish Police Jury was held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 29. The major announcement of the evening involved newly-released funding on four of the largest road projects in the parish in recent years.
In 2021, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funding was issued to local governments following the COVID crisis. The funding could not be used for infrastructure projects, but that was eventually changed at the national level. Vernon Parish Police Jurors wanted to maximize their funding and approached District 30 State Senator Mike Reese about available state funding with a 25% local match. Projects were approved during the 2023 legislative session but vetoed by Governor Edwards, with all projects lost. Recently, Reese worked them back into the Senate and state budget to get them back on track.
Tuesday night, Reese was in attendance at the meeting of the Vernon Parish Police Jury when the Jury approved four resolutions, accepting Co-Op Endeavor Agreements between the State of Louisiana, Facility Planning & Control, and the Vernon Parish Police Jury. The projects include the Tom Beckom Road Improvement Project (RIP), Bailey Road RIP, South Hawthorne Road RIP, and Lake Vernon and Spillway Road RIP.
The total in state dollars spent will be $10.16 million; the local share just over $2 million. Reese, who sits on the Senate Finance Committee, had high praise for the Vernon Parish Police Jury in its allocation and budgeting of funds during the fiscal year. He told Jurors their prudent action and the leverage of federal funds got the parish big bang for the bucks spent. Police Jury President, Jim Tuck, thanked Reese for his work with other senators to ensure the parish benefitted to the maximum. These funds are currently available. All projects will go into the planning stages, marking a giant step forward for local roads.
The meeting Tuesday began with an online chat with Debbie Henton, the Executive Counsel of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana, in regard to the recently-called-for Special Legislative Session. Henton told Jurors this session is all about tax reform in the state. She stated it is not a bad thing but cannot happen all at once. Taxing authority boards across the state have been sent drafts of new proposed changes to the tax code. The Louisiana Department of Revenue seeks many changes, including a flat rate income tax and a re-working of homestead exemption. Henton said due to the varied sizes and populations of parishes, a standard tax plan would be difficult to design that would be fair and equitable for all. Basically, the state wants to lower virtually everyone’s income tax while increasing how much money the state can access over the next five years.
Budget shortfalls in Louisiana are predicted between $600-800 million based on current scenarios. The special session, beginning November 6, will deal with all manner of taxes and fees. You might soon be paying tax on dog grooming and haircuts and about 40 things never taxed before by the state. The Police Jury Association of Louisiana, the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association, and the Louisiana Municipal Association have all retained the same representation to monitor the proposed change in tax codes.
The next meeting of the Vernon Parish Police Jury will be Tuesday, November 12, at 5 p.m., rather than Monday, November 11, due to the Veterans Day holiday.