On the Ballot

On the Ballot: Tax Propositions for Water and Sewer Systems in Jefferson Parish

By Fox 8 Staff

Source: Fox 8

March 2, 2021

JEFFERSON PARISH (WVUE) –The Bureau of Governmental Research Tuesday released a report highlighting two Jefferson Parish tax proposals related to the parish’s water and sewer systems.

The two propositions will appear on the March 20 ballot. The propositions will appear as separate items on the ballot.

The 10-year taxes would each have a maximum rate of 5 mills.

If passed, they would take effect in 2023, replacing two existing water and sewer taxes that expire at the end of 2022 and would provide necessary funds to allow Jefferson Parish to implement its plans for maintaining the crucial infrastructure.

READ THE FULL REPORT

The proposed water tax would replace an existing 3.33-mill tax, resulting in $6.1 million in new revenue for the water system.

The proposed sewer tax would replace an existing 3.36-mill sewer tax, resulting in $5 million in new revenue for the sewer system that serves about 116,000 residential and commercial accounts and includes six sewage treatment plants and more than 1,400 miles of collection pipes and sewer mains.

The proposed taxes 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 Gretna.

If voters approve the two propositions, and the Council levies the maximum authorized 5 mills for each, homeowners subject to both taxes would pay $100 annually on each $100,000 of property value above the $75,000 homestead exemption beginning in 2023. That is $33.10 more than at the current rates.

For example, the owner of a homestead-exempt property valued at $281,000 would pay $206 per year.

The election is set for March 20.

Fair Use Notice

This site occasionally reprints copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of issues and to highlight the accomplishments of our affiliates. We believe this constitutes a “fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is available without profit. For more information go to: US CODE: Title 17,107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond “fair use,” you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.