Morgan City Council hears about sales tax bump, auditorium deposits

The Morgan City Council on Tuesday got a rough idea of how much business was generated by Hurricane Ida.
Also at Tuesday’s final council meeting of 2021, the council gave people who rent the Municipal Auditorium’s Ballroom or Theater another 300 reasons to tidy up after their events.
And the council recognized a woman who has helped city government employees establish and receive credit.
Sales taxes
Finance Director Deborah Garber told the council that general revenue for the year is running more than $900,000 over the amount budgeted. Of that total, sales tax receipts account for $410,000, Garber said.
The added revenue is good, she said, but we shouldn’t wish for another hurricane.
That was a reference to Hurricane Ida, which contributed to the hike in tax revenue.
For weeks after Ida made landfall in Port Fourchon on Aug. 29, east St. Mary was a go-to spot for residents of hard-hit areas who needed to stock up on food and other goods.
The additional $410,000 generated by Morgan City’s 4.75% sales tax rate represents about $8.6 million in taxable sales.
The total tax rate on sales in Morgan City, including state, parish and School Board taxes, is 9.2%.
Auditorium
deposits
The council went along with a request from Morgan City Main Street Director Beth Chiasson to raise the deposit required for use of the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium’s Ballroom and Theater.
The council approved an increase in the deposit required for use of either facility from $200 to $500.
“This change comes after the facility has been left in such a poor state following many recent events in the past year,” Chiasson said in printed material provided to the council. “We hope that the increase in the deposit will act as an incentive to follow our contract.”
“Maybe if it’s $500,” Mayor Lee Dragna said, “they’ll help clean up a little bit.”
Renters don’t have to mop the floors, Chiasson said, but they will be expected to “make sure trash is where it’s supposed to be.”
The rules were also changed to require two police officers at any event with more than 50 people and at which alcohol is served. The renters must pay the officers $35 an hour each.
All event times included in rental packages will end at midnight. Any time after midnight, including cleanup time, will be charged at a rate of $200 per hour. This rule won’t apply to Mardi Gras balls.
Positive Image
The council gave Positive Image recognition to Martha Smilie, who founded the Morgan City Federal Credit Union and has worked there for more than 30 years. Smilie is retiring.
City employees have been frequent customers of the credit union, Dragna said, and the institution gave workers at the low end of the wage scale access to credit.
Also Tuesday:
—The council heard Dragna say the city has received a plaque from the Grand River Dam Authority in Oklahoma.
The dam authority sent people to Louisiana to help with recovery after Hurricane Ida. Workers who stayed in Morgan City were fed and had their laundry done.
“They could not believe how nice the people were ...,” Dragna said. “The people here stepped up.”
—Dragna reported that thousands in funding for community projects are on the way from the H&B Young Foundation.
Included in the charitable foundation’s funding are $10,000 for the petting zoo, $30,000 for the Morgan City Library, $3,500 for the feral cat spaying program and $40,000 for bathrooms at Complex Park. There is also money for a handicapped-access ramp at the Municipal Auditorium.
—Dragna thanked council members for their help during his first year as mayor.
Council members thanked Dragna in return.
“I believe the next year will be phenomenal,” Dragna said, “especially since we set it up this year.”