In The News › Jefferson Parish

The task force’s recommendation to renew the tolls is at odds with a report released in April by the non-profit Bureau of Governmental Research, which said the tolls should be allowed to expire because just 19 cents of every toll dollar goes toward bridge maintenance and policing.

Lawmakers also should consider the Bureau of Governmental Research report from last year, which pointed out the basic unfairness of the tolls that are now collected on east-bank-bound drivers.

We, the Metropolitan Crime Commission, the Bureau of Governmental Research, Citizens for One Greater New Orleans, Women of the Storm, Levees.org and other citizen advocacy groups, promise to continue to hold government officials at all levels accountable for their actions.

This newspaper makes the following recommendations for Saturday’s ballot.

The non-profit Bureau of Governmental Research opposes the measure, arguing that veterans’ benefits should be handled by the federal government. In addition, the measure creates what Janet Howard, the organization’s president, referred to as “serious fairness issues” because disabled veterans who rent will not see any benefit.

With contract negotiations between the Jefferson Parish School Board and its teachers union set to begin next spring, the two sides agree on at least one issue: Teachers need to be more involved in decision-making. “We feel that teachers are left out of decision-making,” interim schools Superintendent James Meza said Tuesday at a breakfast briefing of the Bureau of Governmental Research at the Sheraton Metairie Hotel. “Teachers should have a voice not only in terms of curriculum but of resource allocation.”

Orleans Parish already has one, and now voters in Jefferson Parish will decide if they want one.

The push for an inspector general’s office in Jefferson Parish has garnered a broad base of support among business groups and government watchdogs, including the Bureau of Governmental Research, Parish President John Young said this week.

James Meza, acting superintendent of the Jefferson Parish Public School System, will be the featured speaker at a Bureau of Governmental Research program on Tuesday.

The Bureau of Governmental Research will honor the achievements of eight outstanding local government employees Thursday when it holds its annual Excellence in Government Awards ceremony.

The Bureau of Governmental Research released a study in April saying that the tolls should be allowed to lapse because too much toll revenue is being spent on “far-flung services,” such as the ferries.

The Bureau of Governmental Research released a study in April saying bridge tolls should be allowed to expire because only 19 percent of toll revenue goes to policing and maintaining the bridge. The report said much of the rest is spent on “far-flung” services, including the ferries, which consume 32 percent of toll revenue.

The Bureau of Governmental Research, a private, nonprofit research organization, is seeking nominations for its annual BGR Excellence in Government Awards.

In a recent letter to the editor on the Crescent City Connection, Transport for NOLA stated that BGR and others had raised concerns “about the efficacy of independent bridge and ferry operations and maintenance, which they argue are better left to the state Department of Transportation and Development.”

I would like to clarify a few points.

Bridge tolls are due to expire at the end of 2012, and audits that have found questionable spending as well as a report by the Bureau of Governmental Research, make a strong case for allowing that to happen. Crescent City Connection users have been paying for lots of things that have little or no benefit to them, and that’s unfair.

Noting that 32 percent of toll revenue goes to the three Mississippi River ferries, the nonprofit Bureau of Governmental Research issued a report recently saying the tolls should be allowed to expire because they are paying for too many services unrelated to bridge operations.

The Bureau of Governmental Research, a New Orleans-based policy institute, has determined that only 19 percent of all toll revenues actually go towards policing and maintenance of the bridge. The remainder is allocated to unrelated expenditures, such as the three Mississippi river ferries which use 32 percent of the CCC’s toll revenue. Additionally, an audit last year by Steve Theriot, the state’s legislative auditor, found that the CCCD has managed to deplete half of a $61 million dollar reserve fund.

Last week, the Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR) issued a report saying lawmakers should let the tolls expire at the end of 2012. BGR found that only 19 percent of the toll funds collected were used to maintain and police the bridge.

But the watchdog group, Bureau of Governmental Research, BGR, has a new report out that argues the tolls should be allowed to expire.

The study also shows that only a fraction of each dollar a driver pays to cross the bridge actually goes to the bridge itself so Dennis sits down with CEO of BGR, Janet Howard to talk about the findings of the study on the tolls and the Crescent City Connection bridge, itself.

Crescent City Connection tolls will expire at the end of 2012 unless the Legislature renews them, but a Bureau of Governmental Research report on bridge finances should be required reading for lawmakers. That report, along with audits that have found instances of questionable spending, make it clear that Crescent City Connection users have been paying for a lot of things of little or no benefit to them.

Also on the ballot is the renewal of a one-half cent sales tax that would pay for teachers’ salaries, facility maintenance, textbooks, social workers and in-school suspension programs. It’s expected to generate almost $37 million next year and accounts for 8 percent of the system’s budget, according to the Bureau of Governmental Research.

The nonprofit Bureau of Governmental Research has recommended approval for both millages.

The Legislature ultimately will decide whether the tolls will stay in place or be removed. In making the decision, they should take a good look at a study the Bureau of Governmental Research released this week that analyzes how money collected from tolls is spent.

The disclosures come a day after the Bureau of Governmental Research released a study saying bridge tolls should be allowed to expire because only 19 percent of toll revenue goes to policing and maintaining the bridge. The report said much of the rest is spent on “far-flung” services, including three Mississippi River ferries that consume 32 percent of toll revenue.

A report issued Tuesday by the Bureau of Governmental Research recommended the tolls on the Crescent City Connection not be extended past the end of 2012, because almost a third of the toll revenue subsidizes three ferry services across the river.

The Bureau of Governmental Research, in a report released Tuesday, said the Crescent City Connection is the only Mississippi River bridge in Louisiana that tolls its users. The organization adds that only a small portion of toll revenue goes to the operation and maintenance of the bridge, and that the cost of collecting the tolls is disproportionate to the revenue generated.

Just 19 cents of every toll dollar collected on the Crescent City Connection goes toward policing and maintaining the bridge, according to a Bureau of Governmental Research report that says the tolls are improperly being spent on “far-flung” services and should be allowed to expire at the end of 2012.

The findings of those state-requested audits come on the heels of a separate independent report, released by the Bureau of Governmental Research. It concluded the Crescent City Connection tolls should be allowed to expire at the end of 2012 because a large portion of the toll money is being used on things other than the bridge.

A new report by the Bureau of Governmental Research recommends state lawmakers allow the tolls on the Crescent City Connection to expire at the end of next year, agreeing with critics who say the tolls paid by CCC motorists should not fund other transportation projects.

The proposition would renew the current 2.91 mills and increase the millage rate by a scant 0.59 mills — to a total rate of 3.5 mills. While renewal of the tax would produce a marginal property tax increase — literally pennies a day for a typical homeowner — failure to renew the measure would leave the Department of Juvenile Services without a dedicated funding source. The nonpartisan Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR), which supports this measure, noted that without it the department’s work would “fall to a thinly funded state office.”

Renewing the millage will translate to an upswing in tax bills for property owners. Over the years, the Parish Council has rolled the tax back from 5 mills to 3.6 mills. Approval Saturday would return the tax to 5 mills. The Bureau of Governmental Research estimates that the owner-occupants of a house valued at $150,000 would pay $10 more a year and a house at $250,000 would pay $24 more.

We periodically hear from politicians about trimming fat, sharpening the pencil and taking a hard look at priorities. Usually this talk comes up around budget time, or maybe election time. But throughout the year, the New Orleans-based Bureau of Governmental Research, or BGR, is at work analyzing the systems and the policies behind those budgets. It examines whether taxpayers are getting good deals for their money and how effectively government policies address community issues. The group lays out the facts, connects the dots and demonstrates what it all means for residents.

The Bureau of Governmental Research on Tuesday endorsed four tax renewals that Jefferson Parish voters will face on the April 30 ballot.

The veterans’ exemption didn’t pass the Legislature last year without opposition. The Bureau for Governmental Research argued that veterans’ benefits are a federal jurisdiction and that the state law unfairly excludes veterans who don’t own property and the families of service members killed in action.

Connick says the Bureau of Governmental Research has agreed to study the toll extension issue and issue a report in time for the regular session of the legislature, which begins in March.

The Bureau of Governmental Research watchdog group issued a report on raising the exemption in 2009 that also criticized the tax break in general. The report noted that proposals to elevate the covered amount also likely would come with tax rate increases to ensure the plans are revenue-neutral to public services, amounting to a major tax increase for businesses and the affluent.

“There is no way grass cutting is a professional service,” Janet Howard of the Bureau of Governmental Research said.

Howard says Professional Services Contracts are supposed to only be used for work that requires skill or expertise like an attorney or architect.

Councilman Roberts’ proposed ordinance mirrors recommendations from the Bureau of Governmental Research, which studied appointment processes in a handful of cities across the country. As drafted, the ordinance will allow each remaining council member to nominate a candidate for vacancies in the parish presidency or in one of the council’s at-large seats. For a vacancy in a district council seat, only the two at-large council members would nominate three candidates each.

In drafting the ordinance, Roberts closely followed recommendations from the Bureau of Governmental Research, a nonprofit public policy group that culled ideas from similar ordinances in Shreveport and three other communities across the country.

The council’s quick selection of Theriot less than a week after Broussard’s exit drew protests from some residents who accused the council of making decisions in secret. At Roberts’ request, the Bureau of Governmental Research recommended the council oversee a new, 12-day process to vet nominees and seek public input before appointing a new official.

“That you would end up with a major blight problem was absolutely predictable,” said Janet R. Howard, executive director of the Bureau of Governmental Research, a nonprofit advisory group here. “You come to a point where you have to get beyond the political question to the actual question.”

“I’d prefer you not do it at all if you don’t do it right,” said Quatrevaux, speaking to a host of Jefferson officials, residents and businesspeople at a Bureau of Governmental Research breakfast in Kenner.

As Jefferson Parish officials work on creating an inspector general’s position to monitor and scrutinize the operations of parish government, the Bureau of Governmental Research is holding a briefing on how to pull off such a project.

Janet Howard, president of the Bureau of Governmental Research, said the inclusion of contracts online is “something we consider critical to open government.” Having that sort of access makes it easier “for the public to spot aberrations.”

But officials with the New Orleans-based Bureau of Governmental Research, a watchdog group, take a dim view of TIFs. Janet Howard, BGR’s president, didn’t speak to Kenner’s plan specifically but said part of the concern with TIFs is that they could be a “zero-sum gain from a regional point of view,” meaning that the revenue is just moving from one area to another. TIFs sometimes are unnecessary subsidies for big businesses and could hurt smaller businesses, she said.

Committee member Janet Howard from the Bureau of Governmental Research stressed that the committee was the first step and, while the committee will not recommend a specific candidate for the Inspector General position, the position itself must be independent. That sentiment was echoed by several citizens in attendance.

The council agenda includes several orders of business the public is likely to be watching. The council will vote on hiring an Internal Auditor and an Ethics Compliance Officer. There is also legislation requiring the Parish Attorney to work full-time for the parish. Also, the council is asking the Bureau of Governmental Research to help craft policy that relates to the public outrage over Steve Theriot’s behind the scenes appointment as interim parish president.

Henry’s efforts coincide with the Parish Council’s creation of a panel to begin developing the local inspector general’s office. Council Chairman John Young said that committee, which is expected to convene Thursday is almost assembled.

So far it consists of Janet Howard from the Bureau of Governmental Research, Ric Smith from the Jefferson Business Council, Tom Meyer of the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and Landry Camardelle of the West Bank Civic Coalition, Young said Thursday.

The Bureau of Governmental Research, a watchdog group, echoes the sentiment.

“The Tax Commission’s ratio studies do not always paint an accurate picture of assessor performance,” according to a recent BGR report on changing property-assessment practices in New Orleans. “The Tax Commission often includes assessments that have already been adjusted to the sale. This undermines the validity of the studies.”

Capella’s resolution calls for the crime commission, the Jefferson Business Council, the Bureau of Governmental Research and the East Jefferson and West Jefferson civic coalitions each to appoint one person to an advisory committee. It would help define the job of inspector general and recommend a source of money to run the office.

Capella’s resolution will call for a five-member committee to select the IG. The committee will be comprised of civic and business leaders, the Metropolitan Crime Commission and the Bureau of Governmental Research.

With Jefferson Parish mired in political scandal, Councilman Tom Capella called Thursday for an inspector general’s office shaped by independent government watchdogs…. The panel members would be picked by the Metropolitan Crime Commission, the Jefferson Business Council, the Bureau of Governmental Research and the East Jefferson and West Jefferson civic coalitions.

The resolution calls for the creation of a 5 member committee. The panel members would be chosen by 5 different organizations, including one that keeps a close eye on how taxpayer dollars are spent, the Bureau of Governmental Research.

The resolution creates a committee staffed by members of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, the East and West Jefferson Civic Coalitions, the Jefferson Business Council, and the Bureau of Governmental Research, which helped Orleans Parish establish its inspector general.

Janet Howard from the Bureau of Governmental Research says the council has to look at all areas of concern, including contracting procedures, conflicts of interest and financial disclosure.

Tim Whitmer, chief administrative officer for Jefferson Parish government since 1998, received a lifetime achievement award from the Bureau of Governmental Research last week.

The nonprofit research organization’s report, “The House that Uncle Sam Built: The Continued Expansion of Subsidized Housing in New Orleans,” found that the number of subsidized units in New Orleans jumped from 19,865 in 2005 to 23,999 in 2009, a 21 percent increase.

Group warns trend puts stress on city

The nonprofit Bureau of Governmental Research today threw its support behind two Jefferson Parish transit taxes up for renewal by voters, saying that “serious cuts in service” will result if they are not renewed.

The Nov. 4 ballot presents Louisiana voters with much more than the all-
important contests for president, U.S. Senate and Congress.

When voters go to the polls Nov. 4, they will be greeted by seven little-heralded proposed changes to the state Constitution, including ones to limit the terms of 10 state boards, require the governor to give lawmakers more notice of a special session, and authorize a temporary replacement to fill a legislator’s seat if the incumbent is called to military duty for at least 180 days.

A government watchdog group is urging Jefferson Parish to apply more structure to tax incentive districts it has created to pay for infrastructure repair and blight eradication before public money is steered to these areas.

An independent watchdog group warned Tuesday that Jefferson Parish’s plans to use special tax districts to spur economic development could starve surrounding businesses and the government’s sales tax base.