One Man with Courage Saved Taxpayers Sum Of $1.5 Million

by Woody Jenkins

BATON ROUGE— It’s not often that one man can take credit for saving the taxpayers more than $1.5 million.

But John Taylor of Zachary certainly can!

Taylor is an appointed member of the Board of Commissioners of BREC.

Three weeks ago, the Board room at BREC headquarters on Florida Boulevard was packed when BREC chairman Kenneth Riche called the public hearing to order on a $1.5 million property tax increase — the so-called “roll forward” of property tax millages.

Once in every four years, a public body that levies property taxes can “roll forward” the millages by a two-thirds’ vote of the total membership of the body.  That results in a property tax increase for everyone — sometimes a significant one.  The BREC Board has nine members, which means six votes were needed to pass the tax.

Across East Baton Rouge Parish, taxing bodies could raise property taxes by more than $10 million a year within the next few weeks.

Speaking against the BREC tax increase were City Council candidate Buddy Amoroso, businessman Dwight Hudson, Chamber of Commerce of East Baton Rouge executive director Bob Breaux and vice chairman Bob Burns, Republican Party spokesman Judge Darrell White, and parish GOP chairman Woody Jenkins.

No member of the public spoke in favor of the tax increase.

After the public hearing was held, a couple of commissioners spoke briefly in favor of the tax increase but provided no explanation of why the $1.5 million in additional funds was needed.

Then there was a bombshell.

Commission member John Taylor took the microphone and said, “I’m from Zachary.  I was appointed to this body in January, and I know what it is to live on a fixed income.  In fact, there’s no such thing as fixed income — it’s all out-go!  I’m not going to vote for this tax!”

The audience applauded.  Chairman Kenneth Riche instructed the secretary to call the roll.

The vote was five for, one against, and three absent.

Most people in the audience thought the tax had easily passed 5-1.  But then a big surprise.  The chairman announced the tax increase had failed, because six votes were required for passage.

The room was stunned.

After adjournment, the mood of the crowd of business owners and Republican and conservative activists was buoyant.

They congratulated and thanked John Taylor — the “million dollar man” who saved East Baton Rouge Parish taxpayers $1.5 million.

Republican parish chairman Woody Jenkins said it was a big victory in the GOP’s effort to stop the roll forward of millage rates in East Baton Rouge Parish.

”The taxpayers had a good night!” Jenkins said.  “And it proves once again that one man can make a difference!”  The Central school board and the Zachary City Council also voted against a roll forward.

John Taylor is the father of Central Middle School principal Sandy Davis.