LAPLACE — Without the funds generated by the .96 mills tax, it would be difficult for the St. John Health Unit to continue providing important medical services, local officials said.

The health unit’s millage was up for renewal on Saturday’s election ballot, and St. John the Baptist Parish residents voted in favor of keeping that tax.

Out of the 2,902 voters that participated, 62 percent (1,811) voted in favor of keeping the renewal, compared to 38 percent (1,098) who were against the proposal.

Those who voted represented 9.85 percent of eligible voters.

Parish President Natalie Robottom said administrators didn’t anticipate the renewal failing.

The services provided by the St. John Health Unit are crucial services for residents, she said.

“Without the funds, we wouldn’t be able to keep operating,” Robottom said. “We’re just thankful that (voters) had faith in us to continue serving them. We’re going to utilize the dollars as intended.”

Along with providing preventative measures, the health unit also houses the Parish’s sanitarian, who tests the water in St. John.

Robottom said revenue from the millage helps pay two employees the Parish funds and provides for maintenance, utilities, supplies and equipment.

The St. John Health Unit is located at 473 Central Avenue in Reserve, and the tax is expected to generate $434,790 annually through a .96 mills collection that renews for 10 years in 2018.

According to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, the millage is part of a local, state and federally funded partnership for a local Public Health Unit, which houses services for parish residents, including environmental health, food safety and sanitation, disease control, immunizations, Tuberculosis prevention, Medicaid eligibility and vital statistics.

Region 3 Administrator and Medical Director William Riggins said the vote showed the community recognized the importance of the parish health unit.

“This renewal will allow us to continue to partner with the community and to work together to improve health outcomes,” he said, adding services target the entire community regardless of income.

“It only takes a little mortar to make a strong structure. This funding for public health services should go a long way towards holding the system together in the parish.

“I think that everyone knows about our clinical prevention services, but I don’t know if folks realize that the employees there are working behind the scenes each and every day to keep the community healthy and to insure conditions.”