Today, the Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR) releases On the Ballot: Jefferson Parish Water and Sewer Taxes, March 20, 2021. The report is intended to help voters in Jefferson Parish make informed decisions on two property tax propositions to replace existing water and sewer system taxes.
Although the propositions will appear as separate items on the March 20 ballot, BGR analyzed them together because of their similarities. The 10-year taxes would each have a maximum rate of 5 mills. They would take effect in 2023, replacing two existing water and sewer taxes that have lower maximum rates and expire at the end of 2022.
- The proposed water tax would replace an existing 3.33-mill tax, resulting in $6.1 million in new revenue for the water system if the new tax is levied at the maximum rate (a 50% increase to $18.4 million a year). The proposed tax will go before voters only in the geographic district served by the water system: the unincorporated portion of the parish, the municipalities of Kenner, Harahan, Jean Lafitte and Grand Isle, and the Timberlane subdivision in the City of Gretna.
- The proposed sewer tax would replace an existing 3.36-mill sewer tax, resulting in $5 million in new revenue for the sewer system if the new tax is levied at the maximum rate (a 49% increase to $15.2 million a year). The proposed tax will go before voters only in the geographic district served by the sewer system: the unincorporated portion of the parish, the Town of Jean Lafitte and the Timberlane subdivision in the City of Gretna.
Residents of municipalities outside the districts do not pay the taxes or vote on the propositions.
BGR’s report analyzed the tax propositions based on a series of questions that address the efficient and effective use of public resources. Click here to read:
They are also available here on our website.