Mayor: Breaux Bridge needs revenue boost

Without additional revenues, ground work for the city’s anticipated future growth and development will be in serious jeopardy. That is the conclusion of a presentation by Mayor Ricky Calais at the April 14 city council meeting.
Calais’ “State of the City” report painted the picture of a financial situation in which Breaux Bridge is holding its own as far as current obligations and basic government functions. But, Calais said, the city’s present sales tax, the lowest in the Acadiana area, takes ambitious plans off the table.
Unless taxes are brought more in line with other municipalities, he contends, most items on the city’s list of current “needs” will be very hard to acquire. The list of “wants” – items and programs intended to improve livability and promote future development – will be out of reach altogether.
On the “needs” list are several pieces of equipment; items like an excavator, dump truck, back hoe, and vehicles that would have to be rented at a greater cost to the city in the long run. Also on that list are items such as road and sidewalk repairs and improvements to the jail and City Hall.
The “wants” list includes more forward-looking projects such as an extension of Mills Avenue to promote commercial development, a civic center, a community recreation center and sidewalk projects to connect residential neighborhoods to the downtown area.
Calais’ presentation included a comparison of Breaux Bridge revenues to those of other towns in the area with similar populations. The city’s revenue is well below that of Carencro, Scott and Broussard.
The mayor strongly recommends an increase in sales tax. He recognizes that now is not the right time for a general sales tax rise, mainly due to the temporary additional penny state tax that will sunset later this year. But for now he recommends establishing additional Special Tax Districts. District 2 would adjoin and enlarge existing Special Tax District 1 to include the area north of I-10 around the Rees Street intersection. District 3 would extend south on Rees and west on Mills Highway to the city limit. Together, these additional districts would bring in an estimated $840,000 annually. Like District 1, the tax would only apply to sales by businesses located in the district.
After the state tax expires, Calais recommends increasing the city sales tax by one cent. The Special Tax Districts would then be eliminated and the additional tax revenue would be about $2.5 million. Calais said it would still leave Breaux Bridge lower than most of the surrounding communities and would place more of the city’s needs, and even some of its wants, closer to reality.