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St. James Parish residents began visiting the polls on Saturday in early voting to decide whether to renew several parishwide millages that fund items including the parish hospital, roads, and library system. Residents will also vote on a 20-year bond for road and drainage improvements.

Early voting ends on April 26, while Election Day is scheduled for May 3. Several millages for the library and hospital scheduled for renewal in 2027 are now combined into one vote on the May ballot.

Parish President Pete Dufresne has launched a campaign to promote the millage through Facebook videos ahead of the vote. In his videos, Dufresne stated that the millages “support critical services that keep St. James Parish safe, help us function efficiently, and enable us to be prepared for emergencies.”

Decrease in library funding

The library system fund renewal is the only proposal with a change, decreased by 0.5 mills to 2.48. This reduction aims to offset the general obligation bond that residents will also see on the ballot.

If approved, the tax is expected to raise an estimated $1.7 million per year. The system, which operates branches in Vacherie and Lutcher, has been in place since the 1960s, according to an information sheet.

911 system

This 1.25-mill renewal, estimated to raise $850,000 per year, funds the 911 emergency call system and radio communication for emergency personnel throughout the parish.

Other millage renewals include a road maintenance renewal of 4.93 mills, a lighting district renewal of 1 mill, and a renewal of 4.93 mills for maintenance and operations of public buildings. Residents in District 5 will also vote on a one mill renewal for recreation, while those in Gramercy will see a recreation fund renewal of 4.61 mills.

General obligation bond

The general obligation bond of 0.5 mills will raise a total of $25 million over a 20-year period, according to the ballot. The funds will be dedicated to road improvement and drainage projects. An informational page on the parish website states the bond will ensure emergency repairs after natural disasters.

Hospital millage

Voters will be asked whether to renew a tax of 4.75 mills to fund the parish public hospital system beginning in 2027. According to the ballot, an estimated $3.6 million will be collected per year.

The tax funds the hospital in Lutcher and the St. James West Bank Clinic in Vacherie. Founded 70 years ago, it is designated as a critical access hospital because of its rural location.

Fire and emergency renewal

A fire tax of 3.91 mills, raising roughly $2.7 million per year, will be used to fund the operations of parish volunteer fire departments and medical operations. Expenses and capital expenditures will be financed by 60 percent of the tax, with 25 percent allocated to a contract with Acadian Ambulance, 12 percent deposited into a trust account, and 3 percent reserved for administrative costs.