BB officials see need for more revenue

Police Chief Rollie Cantu wants to bring starting pay for Breaux Bridge police officers into line with surrounding departments.
At the March 14 city council meeting, Cantu said the department needs to take the measure to end the loss of officers to other municipalities in the area. Currently, Breaux Bridge officers start at $13.50 per hour. Lafayette and other nearby departments are starting their officers at $15 to $16 per hour. Cantu is proposing a starting wage of $15 with an automatic increase of 25 cents per hour per year of experience.
Agreeing, District A representative Howard Alexander said “When an officer puts on that uniform, he doesn’t even know that he will be coming home. For that, $13.50 is not enough.”
While there is general support for an increase, Mayor Ricky Calais made it clear that a pay hike would be very difficult in the present weak economy. The chief’s proposed increase would cost around $150,000 per year assuming a full staff, or $125,000 at the current staffing level.
Calais said that, while the police certainly deserve it, “At the present time, you will need to tell me what to cut or what not to buy.”

The city is currently looking for ways to raise more revenue. A second special taxing district (STD) is already proposed, and a third contemplated. The first of two required public hearings about STD 2 was held during the March 4 meeting. The exact boundaries for STD 2 have not been finalized, but it will be in the commercial development area north of I-10 and east of Rees St./La 328. The proposed STD 3 would start on Rees Street where STD 1 ends and extend south to Mills Ave./La. 94 and west along Mills to the city limit.
As in STD 1, a one cent extra tax would be levied on sales in the proposed districts. Establishing both new districts would add an estimated $800,00 per year in revenue to city coffers.
District E councilman Gary “Bimmie” Champagne pointed out that the one cent temporary state sales tax imposed last April was likely to make passage of any new city tax harder. He recommended waiting until the state tax sunsets in July.
As to the state allowing the tax to end on schedule, however, Calais said, “Don’t count on it.”
Mayor Calais added that no other municipality in the area has a sales tax rate as low as Breaux Bridge. A city-wide one cent increase would still leave the city under the average, he said, and bring in an additional $3 million per year.
If it was passed, Calais said, the special tax districts could be eliminated.
“Nobody likes taxes,” Champagne said, “but the city can’t go on indefinitely as it is now. We won’t be able to provide the services we do now if something is not done.”
Calais agreed, saying money raised by a sales tax increase is “By us and for us, not sent to Baton Rouge.” He continued, “This city has had things on its wish list for 25-30 years and that is where they will stay without an increase in revenues.”