COA tax will be on Oct. 14 ballot

The St. Martin Parish Council has called a special election for Saturday, Oct. 14, asking parish voters to consider two separate tax issues.
The first will be a proposal to levy a property tax of 1.75 mills to provide funds to the parish Council on Aging.
COA administrator Shanese Lewis says the revenue is needed to enable the organization to expand its services throughout the parish, including Lower St. Martin.
One clause in the resolution to approve the special election caused some confusion and resulted in the calling of a special meeting last Thursday. The clause stipulated that 2.65 percent of tax receipts must go to the state employees’ retirement system “as required by law.” This was taken to be an error and was stricken from the original resolution.
Upon further research, however, legal advisor Chester Cedars found that such a contribution was, in fact, required by law and applicable to all taxes collected. The clause was reinserted into the text and the resolution passed as amended at the Thursday meeting.
Also on the ballot will be a request for the renewal of an existing 7.65 mills dedicated to sewage treatment improvements in Water and Sewer District 1.
Each millage, if passed, will sunset after ten years.