Our Views: Tax failure leaves needs

Ascension Parish has experienced dramatic growth in recent years, and that growth has brought many benefits — but also, many costs.

The complicated challenge involved in addressing those costs was underscored by the defeat of a tax proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot to address Ascension Parish’s growing road and bridge needs.

The proposed 25-year, half-cent sales tax lost handily, with 57 percent of those who voted in the election opposed to the tax.

East Baton Rouge Parish stands as a cautionary tale of what can happen when spending on roads and bridges fails to keep pace with growth. That’s what East Baton Rouge Parish residents are facing today, as officials attempt to play catch-up with long-underfunded road and bridge needs. We supported passage of the half-cent sales tax in Ascension, but we respect the will of the parish’s voters in rejecting the proposed tax.

Critics of the tax now have an obligation, though, to suggest some constructive alternatives for advancing Ascension Parish’s road and bridge needs.

Comments

1) Comment by InPVille - 15/11/2012

I agree with TheSensei on the matter of those who voted against the tax being under an obligation to come up with an alternative solution. That is another way of saying: They voted against this tax so they have to come up with another tax. The obvious alternative solution offered those who voted against the tax is already on the table. . . No tax for this purpose for now. -[**]- But I like the idea of a sales tax. Those who spend the most, pay the most. Everyone who spends participates.

2) Comment by Whatnow - 14/11/2012

Bingo, ScotB. The Planning Commission didn't seem to think about that when they let all these subdivisions mushroom overnight and that we didn't have the roads for the influx and the flooding cause by it. Yes, the Planning Commission has changed, but the politics is the same as usual. Always too little too late and for 25 years with no time frame?

3) Comment by ScotB - 13/11/2012

If the parish is growing so much, doesn't the parish have a lot more revenues from the new houses and businesses? If growing means you have to raise tax rates, what is the point of growing?

4) Comment by BRmoderate - 13/11/2012

sorry for the edit but I meant to say parish government is funded through various dedicated property and sales taxes.

5) Comment by BRmoderate - 13/11/2012

The solution is to build roads. Roads cost money. Parish government is funding through various property taxes and is not flexible enough to fund the road improvements needed. A $.25 sales tax is much better than levying another property tax. How else do you fund construction on locally controlled roads???

6) Comment by phil - 13/11/2012

I just think taxpayers are just getting too wise to pass a 25-year tax.

7) Comment by Whatnow - 13/11/2012

There were reasons that this tax was voted down and it is up to the Council to listen to those who voted against it. What is wrong about getting some input from them with different options? There is always room for compromise. Weren't they voted into office to listen to the people that they represent?

8) Comment by tradewinns - 13/11/2012

about time someone spoke the truth. DMJ did just that. the traffic is not so bad that the majority of the taxpayers want to pay more money, they'd rather take the extra time to go somewhere. seeing it is their parish, their money and their time, why is the advocate worried about it? when the traffic or the wait becomes to bad they will do something different when presented the same options. till then, enjoy!

9) Comment by DMJ - 13/11/2012

Sounds like the people have spoken - they want to sit in their cars for an extra hour every day. Case closed. People need to learn that if they want things, they have to pay for them.

10) Comment by TheSensei - 13/11/2012

Tweety, According to that logic, officials can only muster one idea. So they should therefore abdicate office and have new elections since that idea failed? Not likely. How does the general public engage and educate officials to new ideas as one? There are 110,000 people in the parish so having them show up at a meeting and shout won't work. Perhaps they can choose someone to speak for them? How do they have a common voice? Answer? Elected officials that represent them. It's their job. They get paid to do it again and again. If every idea they have fails, they still get paid.

11) Comment by TweetyBird - 13/11/2012

Dear Teacher aka TheSensei, The elected officials unanimously agreed to put the tax on the ballot That was their idea. You can't pay for road improvements without money. The Advocate is right, if the elected officials put together a plan and offered it to the citizens and it was rejected by half the voting population, then the half that rejected it need to come up with another solution. The elected officials do represent us, so give them some suggestions from the people. I am sure that those who opposed it had thought of another way to achieve this before merely voting no. No one likes a Monday morning quarterback. Criticism is easy, suggestions actually require thought.

12) Comment by TheSensei - 13/11/2012

"Critics of the tax now have an obligation, though, to suggest some constructive alternatives for advancing Ascension Parish’s road and bridge needs." Are you seriously for real? Citizens elect representivies to do this exact task for us. If their ideas are not accepted, then they are mandated by being an elected official to continue to develop ideas. Hence they are our elected representatives of that office. Im quite shocked that the Advocate opinion thinks we need, as citizens, to collectively discover and offer a new plan to improve roads in the parish. There are people getting paid to do that exact thing right now from the local parish level all the way to the state level, Why are they not doing a bang up job? Politics as usual in Louisiana. Advocate, you need to sort our your priorities and mind your manners. Citizens are doing their job by paying the taxes at both the local level and state level.