BREC Plans $1.5 Million Tax Hike

BATON ROUGE — The nine-member Board of BREC will vote today on whether to raise property tax millages on property owners in the parish by $1.5 million.  The board, which has no official representative from Central, could by-pass the voters and increase the property tax without a referendum.

The public can testify for or against the tax increase at 5:20 p.m. today at BREC headquarters at 6510 Florida Blvd. (old Sears building).  For a list of BREC board members, see Page 11.

Every four years, all property in the state is reassessed.  At that time, millage rates are rolled back, so that property taxes do not go up.  But each local government can by two-thirds’ vote, roll forward property taxes without a vote of the people.

The Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish is leading the fight against the tax increases.  Dr. Dan Kyle, former Legislative Auditor, is party spokesman against all the roll-forward tax increases, which could total $10 million parishwide.