Our Views: We support Ascension tax

Ascension Parish has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years, and residential and business expansion has meant pressure on the parish’s infrastructure.

That’s why we support a proposed, 25-year, half-cent sales tax on the Nov. 6 ballot that, if approved, would fund road and bridge improvements in parts of Ascension Parish.

The taxing district for the proposed tax does not include the municipalities of Sorrento, Gonzales and Donaldsonville, nor would the tax fund projects within those municipalities. Parish officials have included a detailed list of projects that would be funded by the tax. Supporters estimate that the tax will generate at least $8 million per year. The tax proposal allows for the issuance of bonds against future tax proceeds, which would allow the projects funded by the tax to be completed more quickly. Parish officials estimate that the tax proposal would yield $155 million in spending on parish transportation improvements.

Although parish officials are hopeful of at least some federal and state help in improving major roadways in Ascension Parish, they are right to assume that the primary responsibility for improving the parish’s traffic grid will have to be shouldered by parish residents.

We urge Ascension Parish voters to approve the tax.

Comments

1) Comment by Whatnow - 31/10/2012

Woody, the leanings of the Advocate are very clear and liberal. Been knowing that for a long time.

2) Comment by Woody - 31/10/2012

for those of you scoring along at the house, the advocate is against individual rights as a gun owner (proposed constitutional amendment 2) and for unnecessary taxes. big surprise.

3) Comment by phil - 30/10/2012

25 years for any tax is too long. it can always be renewed if needed within a 25 year time span.

4) Comment by DMJ - 30/10/2012

People in Ascension seem to want to have their cake (low taxes) and eat it too (roads, infrastructure). If you want quality infrastructure and services, you gotta pony up the cash.

5) Comment by Mr. T - 30/10/2012

The Adocate never met a tax it didn't like...with the exception of proposals like the CATS tax that benefit black folks.

6) Comment by Mildred Citizen - 29/10/2012

If all of these new homeowners and businesses are additional taxpayers Ascension didn't have before, don't they already have a substantial increase in taxes to pay for this infrastructure? The way I understand it, the whole point of economic development is to increase the number of taxpayers so you don't have to raise taxes. The Ascension economic development people are obviously doing a great job. Don't ruin it by raising taxes.