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July 11, 2012Terrebonne to appeal Vanguard well judgment
July 11, 2012
Terrebonne Parish voters can anticipate seeing multiple tax-related questions on the Nov. 6 ballot.
Among them is one that, if approved, would renew a 1.66 millage ad valorem tax to benefit the Terrebonne Parish Health Unit.
An extended re-dedication of the existing tax would be used to acquire, construct and maintain a new facility for the state-run health unit.
The existing 1.66 mill property tax that benefits the health unit, which is operated by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals but leased by the parish, may be used only for maintenance and operations. By changing wording of the provisions and renewing the tax to extend beyond its present deadline at the end of 2019 to 2030, officials contend that the more than $1.2 million it generates each year could be used to assist in securing a new, larger facility.
A public vote would change wording to allow collected revenue to also be used for construction rather than just operation and maintenance.
“We are not adding a new tax,” Terrebonne Parish finance director Jamie Elfert said. “It is a matter of extending an existing tax.”
Dr. Connie Gistand became regional director for the Health Unit on July 1. She did not return telephone calls for comment.
A rededication and extension of this property tax means that on a home valued at $150,000 the annual mills to be paid on this tax would be $12.45.
The Terrebonne Parish Health Unit is currently located at 600 Polk St. The facility has been described as being too small to adequately meet community needs. Talk of moving to a larger facility has taken place for several years.
Voters will be asked to extend an existing 1.66 mill property tax to move the Terrebonne Parish Health Unit from this building at 600 Polk St. in Houma to a larger location. Officials have voiced interest in using $2.6 million in reserves to build a new facility.
