A new Jefferson Parish property tax is on the Dec. 7 ballot to fund teacher pay raises
By Blake Paterson
Source: The Times-Picayune | Nola.com
November 22, 2024
The Jefferson Parish School Board is asking voters to approve a new property tax on the Dec. 7 ballot to fund pay raises for both teachers and staff.
The 10.89-mill tax would raise an additional $48 million per year over the next ten years and allow Jefferson Parish Schools to increase its pay for certified teachers by $8,300.
The Bureau of Governmental Research, a New Orleans-based good government group, recommended voters approve the tax in a report released Thursday.
“The 10.89-mill tax is a significant request of voters, but one that would support a core building block for the future success of the parish’s families, economy and quality of life,” BGR wrote.
The new tax would cost homeowners an additional $108.90 annually on each $100,000 of property value above the $75,000 homestead exemption. The owner of a homestead-exempt property valued at $320,000 would pay an additional $266.81 per year.
The tax proposal comes as schools across Louisiana grapple with a shortage of teachers. As of October, there were 98 teacher vacancies in Jefferson Parish Schools.
If the tax is approved, Jefferson Parish would boost its starting salary for certified teachers to $60,100 — making it the highest paying district in the New Orleans area.
Starting pay for teachers with a bachelor’s degree in Jefferson Parish is currently $51,800, far lower than the $57,700 offered in Orleans Parish and $60,000 offered in both St. Charles and Plaquemines parishes.
Jefferson Parish Schools, the largest and most diverse school district in the state, improved to a “B” grade in 2024 in statewide school performance scores.
In its report, BGR said Jefferson Parish Schools, with its $625 million budget, had “demonstrated strong stewardship and accountability for public dollars.”
The Jefferson Parish School Board in June signed off on a 5% pay hike for teachers, which Superintendent James Gray said was possible thanks to cost savings from the closure and consolidation of several schools in recent years. The district is also in the process of building two new schools with funds freed up from the reorganization, Gray said.
Even if the new millage is approved, Jefferson Parish property owners would continue to pay fewer taxes toward the public school system than those living in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
With the new tax, Jefferson Parish’s millage rate would increase to 39.44 mills. A “mill” is one dollar of tax for every $1,000 in taxable property value.
In 2023, the millage rate was 42.11 in St. Bernard Parish; 43.45 in East Baton Rouge Parish; 45.31 in Orleans Parish; 46.96 in St. Charles Parish; 62.00 in St. Tammany Parish; 74.77 in Caddo Parish; and 26.85 in Plaquemines Parish.
Early voting runs from Nov. 22 through Nov. 30, excluding Sunday, Nov. 24; Thursday, Nov. 28; and Friday, Nov. 29. Polls are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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