Hell NO!
Hey - if you can fleece the people to prop up your failing university, why not?
It's not are Ouachita Parish taxpayers ready for ULM millage.
Is Lincoln Parish ready for the same for Tech and GSU if this is copied. . . .
West Monroe just copied the Enterprise Zone hospitality/hamburger "recreation" sales tax from Ruston. All the Thomas Road restaurants, hotels, movie theater will be levying an ADDITIONAL 2 cents sales tax, beginning in March. . . to help "economic development" in that area. All was done by the new WM mayor and council and without a public vote, too.
Louisiana Tech University
Flagship of the University of Louisiana System
Absolutely not. Be sure to light up Scotty Robinson's phone.
The police jury has absolutely nothing to do with it.
He's just doing his policy jury duty by putting a vote request before the voters. If the library board wants to build new parish libraries, their request goes through the policy jury to place the millage before the voters.
(unlike these recent taxes passed by the city councils on behalf of their economic development districts. . . no vote by the people, just a ordinance approved by the council).
Louisiana Tech University
Flagship of the University of Louisiana System
Why stop at Ouachita Parish? The great ULM is a regional university serving multiple parishes in northeast Louisiana. All, whatever it is, 12-15 parishes should have their property taxes increased in support of that school. That would include Lincoln Parish, although I can anticipate some angst with that.
(make sure your sarcasm meter is turned on and set at the Holy Chit alarm level, while reading this post.)
They are selling it as "economic development" but if you read closely it is nothing more than a general advancement fund for the school. This is so ULM.
From the news star article. The property tax would fund ULM Vision 2031.That's right. They want a property tax to fund scholarships for low-income locals (where is Delta on that?), in addition to academic and athletic facilities. In my opinion, this will backfire. We will see.
- The University of Louisiana Monroe leaders and supporters have made a plan of action that would expand the university's programs and facilities. To reach the goals set in the plan, ULM would need an additional source of funding supported by Ouachita Parish voters.
- According to a news release from ULM, the university's existing programs and services contribute $566.8 million to the economy.
- Goals of ULM Vision 2031 are:
- Establish ULM as a premiere destination for medical and health sciences.
- Provide GAP scholarships for qualified but low-income Ouachita Parish students.
- Attract matching funds for future projects.
- Expand doctoral programs.
- Modernize and expand Brown Theater, making it North Louisiana's cultural center.
- Update and expand Fant-Ewing Coliseum to make it an academic, entertainment and sports center.
- Enhance athletic facilities to attract more visitors
I wouldn't vote for something like this even for Tech.
So ULM.
ULM wants tax money going towards Fant-Ewing Coliseum expansion and renovation??? Why? Are folks crazy excited for ULM basketball? Also, Mayor Mayo wants a $90-100 Million downtown arena (see below).
I'm hesitant to make fun of it until we know whether it fails or not.
How this went down is their student body said NO to their athletic enhancement fee. ULM went to plan B. Being sneaky, they repackage this as economic development tax to get athletes money for facility upgrade by local tax payers.