UPDATED: Hospital district ready to begin work after tax passes
The money raised by a new property tax for Hospital Service District No. 2 won’t start coming in until next year. But the district’s chairman says repairs at Ochsner St. Mary will begin sooner than that.
The district’s 9-mill property tax passed easily in a light turnout Saturday, a day that was friendly to tax propositions in St. Mary. New levies passed for public safety in Franklin and Baldwin, and millage renewals in each of the School Board’s three maintenance districts passed by big margins.
The Hospital Service District No. 2 tax, which will apply to property from the Calumet Cut east, was billed as needed to upgrade the Ochsner St. Mary building, which is operated by Ochsner Health but owned by the district. Proceeds will also be used for scholarships for local people who want to enter health care fields.
The $3.4 million the tax is expected to raise each year will allow the district to begin work on upgrades even before the actual revenue comes in, said Dr. William Cefalu, who practices at the Morgan City hospital and chairs the district’s board. The tax creates a revenue stream against which the district can borrow money.
“We plan on going to the (State) Bond Commission,” Cefalu said. “We have some urgent needs we have to take care of before next hurricane season.”
A hurricane that struck after the board decided to submit the tax proposition to voters underscored the point.
Hurricane Francine and its rapid 10-inch rain fall exposed the fact that the hospital isn’t sealed against weather. The wet walls closed the hospital to in-patient care for a few weeks after the Sept. 11 storm.
The hospital needs to be sealed against moisture, windows needupgrading, the roof needs work, and the building requires a new air-conditioning system that can maintain positive pressure, Cefalu said.
Voters agreed that the work is necessary, to judge by the returns. The tax passed 70%-30% in a turnout of just less than 16%.
“I am grateful that the citizens of the district see the value in our hospital,” Cefalu said.
“I’m also humbled and honored that they trust the HSD to implement the necessary improvements needed to ensure it is here for future generations.”
The scholarship language is designed to keep talented St. Mary young people here to work in health-related fields.
A lack of medical staff members was a factor cited by Ochsner when, in 2023, it closed the Morgan City hospital to nonemergency labor and delivery care in favor of a Bayou Region consolidation at Ochsner St. Anne in Raceland.
St. Mary results only
Hospital Service
District No. 2
9 Mills - BOC - 10 Yrs.
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 24 of 24 precincts Votes
2,128 YES 70%
924 NO 30%
Total: 3,052
Unofficial Turnout: 15.9%
Law Enforcement Sub-District No. 1
10 Mills Renewal - Sheriff - 10 Yrs.
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 1 of 1 precincts
17 YES 85%
3 NO 15%
Total: 20
Unofficial Turnout: 26.3%
Consolidated School District Number Two (2)
12.73 Mills Continuation - SB - 10 Yrs.
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 13 of 13 precincts Votes
895 YES 58%
640 NO 42%
Total: 1,535
Unofficial Turnout: 14.0%
Consolidated School District Number Three (3)
12.42 Mills Continuation - SB - 10 Yrs.
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 22 of 22 precincts
832 YES 59%
582 NO 41%
Total: 1,414
Unofficial Turnout: 11.0%
Sixth Ward Special School District No. 3
12.53 Mills Continuation - SB - 10 Yrs.
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 12 of 12 precincts
870 YES 62%
531 NO 38%
Total: 1,401
Unofficial Turnout: 17.0%
Town of Baldwin
1% S&U Tax - M&BOA - In Perp.
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 3 of 3 precincts
179 YES 77%
52 NO 23%
Total: 231
Unofficial Turnout: 16.0%
City of Franklin
1% S&U Tax - M&CC - In Perp.
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 10 of 10 precincts Votes
393 YES 69%
177 NO 31%
Total: 570
Unofficial Turnout: 12.2%
Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 1
7.81 Mills Renewal - BOC - 10 Yrs.
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 22 of 22 precincts Votes
936 YES 66%
478 NO 34%
Turnout: 26.3%
Consolidated School District Number Two (2)
12.73 Mills Continuation - SB - 10 Yrs.
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 13 of 13 precincts Votes
895 YES 58%
640 NO 42%
Total: 1,535
Unofficial Turnout: 14.0%
Consolidated School District Number Three (3)
12.42 Mills Continuation - SB - 10 Yrs.
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 22 of 22 precincts
832 YES 59%
582 NO 41%
Total: 1,414
Unofficial Turnout: 11.0%
Sixth Ward Special School District No. 3
12.53 Mills Continuation - SB - 10 Yrs.
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 12 of 12 precincts
870 YES 62%
531 NO 38%
Total: 1,401
Unofficial Turnout: 17.0%
CA No. 1 (ACT No. 405, 2024 - SB 177)
Provides relative to the investigative authority and membership of the judiciary commission
Runs in multiple parishes
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 46 of 46 precincts
2,698 YES 63%
1,608 NO 37%
Total: 4,306
Unofficial Turnout: 13.4%
CA No. 2 (ACT No. 406, 2024 - HB 48)
Provides relative to the timing of consideration and required information of appropriations bills
Runs in multiple parishes
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 46 of 46 precincts
3,013 YES 70%
1,268 NO 30%
Total: 4,281
Unofficial Turnout: 13.3%
CA No. 3 (ACT No. 407, 2024 - HB 49)
Allows the legislature to extend a regular session for a limited time period for a specific purpose
Runs in multiple parishes
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 46 of 46 precincts
2,771 YES 65%
1,510 NO 35%
Total: 4,281
Unofficial Turnout: 13.3%
CA No. 4 (ACT No. 409, 2024 - SB 119)
Provides relative to the administration of tax sales of immovable property
Runs in multiple parishes
Early & Absentee Reporting - 1 of 1 parishes
Election Day Reporting - 46 of 46 precincts
2,473 YES 58%
1,797 NO 42%
Total: 4,270
Unofficial Turnout: 13.3%