Early voting on tax propositions begins Saturday

Early voting for the Nov. 13 election will begin Saturday. Four local tax propositions along with four proposed state constitutional amendments await voters in St. Mary.
The amendments are mostly about taxes, too.
Early voting will be 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday through Nov. 6, excluding Sunday, Oct. 31.
Registered voters may vote early at either the Parish Courthouse in Franklin or the Registrar of Voters Office, 301 Third St., Morgan City, regardless of where they live in the parish.
The deadline to request an absentee-by-mail ballot is Nov. 9, other than military or overseas.
On the ballot:
—Voters will decide whether to continue paying a property tax for the St. Mary Parish School Board for 10 years. The ballot measure is labeled Consolidated School District No. 5, but the proposition will appear on ballots parishwide.
The tax is 11.82 mills, up from the current 11.18 after reassessment to keep the revenue at the same level. The new rate would take effect next year, and is expected to raise $6.8 million a year.
Its purpose is to support education “by providing funds for salary obligations and educational management, advancement and en-richment …,” according to the ballot language.
As examples, the tax costs $29.55 per year for the owner of a $100,000 home that qualifies for the homestead exemption, and $147.75 for the owner of a $200,000 home.
—Recreation District No. 2 in the Siracusaville area has two propositions on the ballot for district residents.
The first is renewal of an existing 13.34-mill tax collected “for the purpose of maintaining, operating and improving recreational facilities in the District. …”
The renewal is for 10 years starting in 2022.
The tax currently costs $33.35 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home and $166.75 a year for the owner of a $200,000 home if both are eligible for the homestead exemption.
The second proposition authorizes a bond issue of up to $2.55 million at an interest rate up to 6%.
The money raised with the bonds would be used “for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining or operating parks, playgrounds, recreation centers and other recreational facilities, together with the necessary furnishings and equipment therefor.”
Plans for the money include a walking trail, replacing 25-year-old playground equipment at the district’s park and, maybe, a new roof for the recreation building, said Leroy Trim of the Recreation District No. 2 board.
Passage of the bond issue would not increase taxes.
—Recreation District No. 4 in the Patterson area is seeking a 10-year renewal of a 2.24-mill tax for “the purpose of maintaining, operating and improving recreational facilities in the District. …”
Voters rejected a previous attempt to renew the tax, so board members are trying to send the message that the tax bill is small and is not a new tax.
The tax currently costs $5.60 per year for the owner of a $100,000 home and $28 for the owner of a $200,000 home if both are eligible for the homestead exemption.
—Water and Sewer Commission No. 2 in the Bayou Vista area hopes to renew the current 11-mill property tax “for the purpose of constructing and acquiring improvements and extensions to the water works systems and sewerage systems and related facilities of the Commission and operating and maintaining said systems. …”
The tax currently costs the owner of a $100,000 home $27.50 per year and the owner of a $200,000 home $137.50 per year if both are eligible for the homestead exemption.