New Orleans school taxes earn renewal from voters

By Wilborn P. Nobles III

Source: NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

October 14, 2017

New Orleans voters opted to renew three property taxes that fund public school employee salaries, supplies and disciplinary programs. The three 10-year millages, which will continue at their current rates through 2028, were on the path to resounding approval Saturday (Oct. 14) and are expected to generate $38 million annually for the district.

The renewals of the three taxes come as the Orleans Parish School Board’s oversight expands to schools previously managed by the Recovery School District. Last year, the Louisiana Legislature ordered RSD to transfer its schools to the local control by July 1, 2018.

Voters again backed a 1.55-mill tax funds textbooks, library books, instructional equipment and materials. The district expects this millage to generate $5.7 million annually, according to the Bureau of Governmental Research.

Another 1.55 mills are dedicated to programs for improving discipline and dropout prevention, and a separate 7.27-mill tax is dedicated to salaries, fringe benefits and productivity incentives for employees. It is expected to generate $26.6 million annually.

The school district distributes almost all of its tax revenue to individual public schools on a per-pupil basis. Currently more than 90 percent of public school students attend charter schools in New Orleans. The Orleans Parish School Board directly runs four.

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