LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / July 8, 2000

HAHNVILLE – Four propositions face St. Charles Parish voters in the July 15tax election, including the doubling the 9-1-1 millage, adding significantly to the library millage and adding a new .65-mill tax toward a new health unit.The fourth item is for renewal of the current 2.69-mill property tax for roadlighting.

Land for the proposed new health unit has been located near St. CharlesParish Hospital in Luling, according to Fred Duplechin, regional administrator for the state Office of Public Health.

The St. Charles Parish Council voted in May to negotiate with the property’sowner and secure a purchase agreement, contingent upon the millage’s passage.

The 9-1-1 system needs an increase from 0.49 mills to 1.0 mill, according toMaj. Sam Zinna of the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office, who also chairs the 9-1-1board.

Zinna said the money is needed to pay for the operation and maintenance of the new 800-MHz radio system recently acquired by the office, with help from parish government, sheriff’s office, volunteer fire departments and the parish hospital.

For that system maintenance, an extra $100,000 is needed annually, Zinna said. Also, if approved, the additional millage would pay for adding four newoperator positions at an additional station in the 9-1-1 Center, located next to the courthouse in Hahnville.

The library millage increase, if approved, would support the staffing and equipping of the planned new St. Rose library branch on River Road. Thiswould be a new branch, in addition to the present branches at Destrehan, Norco, Hahnville and the headquarters branch on Lakewood Drive in Luling.

The total assessed valuation of the parish is $707,929,695, with the taxable assessed valuation being $634,076,403, according to bond attorney Jerry Osborne.

If approved, Osborne added, the proposed taxes would generate the following annual amounts: 9-1-1 millage would generate $596,000; library millage would generate $2,920,000; health unit millage would generate 4387,000; and road lighting millage would generate $1,603,000.

Return To News Stories