Police Jury opposes bill to have the state collect all local sales taxes

The Evangeline Parish Police Jury made its stance clear regarding a controversial bill legislatures will be forced to discuss this session.
House Bill 57 would transfer the administration and collection of all local sales and use taxes to the Louisiana Department of Revenue, and ultimately eliminate any and all other forms of collecting sales taxes.
Currently in Evangeline Parish, local sales tax collections are done by the Sales Tax Commission.
During the EPPJ’s meeting Monday, the jury adopted a resolution opposing this measure.
According to Police Juror Eric Soileau, who also serves on the Louisiana Police Jury Association Executive Board, if House Bill 57 were to pass it would “take the authority away from the local level.”
Another issue, Soileau sees with this bill is the vagueness in its writing. “If there is an issue currently, local businesses can go right there to Ville Platte and make their spill and get some help,” said Soileau. “This bill doesn’t tell you if you have any discrepancy or disputes with the collections and distributions when, how and who is going to see about it.”
Soileau continued, “It says the collections will be promptly distributed. But, what does prompt mean? Does that mean next week or next month.”
According to Soileau, this is not the first time a bill similar to House Bill 57 has been presented during a legislative session. He said, several years ago some legislatures attempted to transfer the collection and administration of sales and use taxes, however they were unsuccessful.
Only time will tell what will transpire this time around as legislatures prepare to start the 2019 session on April 8.
During the April 1, 2019 meeting, the EPPJ heard from Public Works Director Chester Granger and Engineer Ronnie Landreneau who shared information regarding several projects that will improve roads throughout the parish and the LGAP.
Granger requested that each juror supply him with a list of roads they would like chip sealed. Granger said, they intend to start chip sealing roads in the month of May.
While addressing the jury, Granger also informed the jury that drainage equipment for Ward 1 is currently being used to tear down adjudicated properties in Ville Platte on Division Road.
Landreneau then shared the jury had been approved to receive $11,115 in an LGAP grant. Earlier this year the police jury applied for this grant and dedicated it to be used to update the electrical system at Crooked Creek Recreational Park.
During the April 1, 2019 meeting, EPPJ Secretary-Treasurer Donald Bergeron presented numbers to the jury for what Justices of the Peace (JP)currently spend to attend their yearly conference.
This discussion carried over from last month when Police Juror Lamar Johnson shared several Justices of the Peace had approached him in regard to increasing what a JP is reimbursed by the jury to attend these conferences.
Prior to Monday’s meeting, JP’s were reimbursed up to $350 when they attended their annual conference. However it was stated at the meeting, that on average a JP spends approximately $630 when attending the conference.
Without hesitation, the jury approved increasing JP reimbursements up to $500.
The increase will not be retroactive, but instead will take affect next year.
Items approved at the meeting were:
•Reappoint Pat Soileau, John Deshotel and Paul N. “T-Boy” Berzas to Evangeline Parish Solid Waste Commission.
•Adoption of an ordinance authorizing and directing the Evangeline Parish Communications District, E911 to execute an agreement with Parochial Employees Retirement System for the purpose of providing retirement benefits to eligible officers and employees.
•Approved trail ride for Paul Edwards on June 9, 2019, at Donald Ray’s Place.
•Resolution authorizing legal counsel to request Attorney General Opinion on work done in a municipality.
•Resolution authorizing Secretary-Treasurer to execute documents associated with the Louisiana Department of Health WIC Contract.