Central Community School Board Nixes Tax Increase

Central’s Board Refuses Plan To Roll Forward Property Taxes

CENTRAL — Continuing its conservative approach to taxes, the Central Community School Board voted unanimously Monday to kill a proposed $350,000 increase in property taxes for school purposes.  The proposed “roll forward” could have passed with a two-thirds’ vote of the seven-member school board. The board also voted against a roll forward in taxes four years ago when many other governmental agencies voted to raise property taxes.

School board member Will Easley had worked against the roll forward, as did board president Dr. Jim Gardner.  In the end, the board was united that it should live with existing tax revenue.

During the public hearing on the matter Monday, Planning & Zoning Commission chairman Rodney Bonvillain asked the board if rolling the tax forward might not be necessary because of inflation.

However, Central schools Supt. Mike Faulk said property tax revenues in Central have been growing steadily, even without a roll forward.  He said they have enjoyed an increase which has averaged 5.9 percent a year.  “This is due to new commercial and residential development.”

Faulk said Central will also receive more state funds because of increasing enrollment in the system, which estimates at 4,300 this fall.  Approximately 2,500 students from Central attended public schools in East Baton Rouge Parish in May 2007, just before the school system took over Central schools on July 1, 2007.

Under the state’s MFP, or Minimum Foundation Program, state funds are increased as enrollment increases.

Mike Mannino appeared as representative of the new City of Central Republican Municipal Executive Committee, which passed a resolution opposing the roll forward.

Mannino said, “We want to do what’s best for the school system but this would be a tax increase without a vote of the people.  Four years ago, you refused to roll taxes forward, and that showed the people that you were good stewards of their money.  If you ever have to come back for a tax increase, people will understand that they are really necessary.”

In other business, the board:

• Awarded a contract to harvest timber on 16th Section lands owned by the school board.  The contract will be let to Slaughter Logging, which will pay the board $490,000.

• Heard a report from construction coordinator Ross Bogan that construction on the School Complex is nearing completion but the roundabout on Sullivan Road may not be ready for school opening because of rain delays.  Construction of the football field at the middle school has also had rain delays.