Recreation tax renewal up April 5

Early voting concludes Saturday in Lafourche for a proposal aiming to renew a property tax for recreation in Raceland.

The proposition is the only one facing Lafourche voters on the April 5 ballot. It aims to extend for 10 years a 3-mill tax dedicated to acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and operating the district’s recreational facilities. Recreation District 2 is based in Raceland and covers portions of wards 3 and 7.

“This is maintenance and operation money,” said Daniel Mayet, chairman of the district’s board of directors. “It will not be bonded.”

The tax is scheduled to expire at the end of 2015. It was last levied in 2005 at a rate of 3 mills. As property assessments rose, the parish council rolled back the millage to 2.67.

At the originally authorized rate, owners of property appraised at $150,000 would pay $22.50 toward the recreation tax. At the current rate, those same owners pay roughly $20. Bond writers estimated the tax would generate $131,000 in annual revenue.

The district usually carries over a fund balance of roughly $30,000 to serve as a buffer when anticipated ad valorem checks are pending, Mayet said.

Recreation District 2 oversees 40 acres of property, including 12 soccer fields, five baseball fields, a football field and a gymnasium, home to a basketball court and exercise programming for senior citizens. One of the signature events is Sugar Fest, an annual regional soccer tournament hosted at the Raceland soccer complex.

Tax proceeds are used to fund maintenance of the facilities and operations of sports leagues. Leagues are given stipends to purchase uniforms and sporting equipment, Mayet said.

The one-issue, district-specific election is April 5. Three propositions – two of which are parishwide – have been approved for the May 3 ballot, and congressional, judicial and other parishwide offices – likely including a special election for assessor – are scheduled for the Nov. 4 ballot.

Mayet said the April date was chosen so the district could try a second time if voters reject the extension. It was also done “on the advice of the bonding attorney,” Mayet said. “We try to follow his advice.”

In addition to several recreation district-specific property taxes, Lafourche’s property owners are taxed at a parishwide millage rate of 1.54 (originally 1.65) for recreational facilities. That revenue is disbursed annually.

Recreation District 2 received $66,000 of $519,000 from the parishwide tax in 2014, a distribution the parish council approved earlier this year.

“We are in the process of making some improvements to the soccer concession area,” Mayet said. “We’re going to be doing some additional parking lots.”

If District 2 voters were to strike down the recreation millage, it would restrict the level of services the district can offer, Mayet said.

“It would hamper the operation of the recreation district,” the chairman said. “We do receive some funds from a parish allocation and also a little bit of revenue sharing. Although we would have some funds, we wouldn’t be able to maintain the level of services we presently offer.”

Mayet also pointed out the district’s annual audits have always come back with no findings of noncompliance

Polls are open from 7 to 8 p.m., April 5. Early votes can be submitted through March 29 at the parish’s registrar offices, at 307 W. Fourth St., Thibodaux, and 16241 E. Main St., Suite B23, Cut Off. For more information, visit geauxvote.com or call 985-447-3256 or 985-632-5520.

“We’d just like to ask voters to support the recreation,” Mayet said. “We provide a lot of facilities and a lot of programs for the kids and for the adults.”