School Board continues debate over tax exemptions

CENTERVILLE -- For the second time in two months, the St. Mary Parish School Board on Thursday rejected an attempt to reclaim its power to say yes or on applications for industrial tax exemptions.

Also Thursday, the School Board approved new a new electoral district map (see related story); launched an effort to make security modifications at five campuses, including Berwick and Patterson high schools; and approved the calendar for the 2022-23 school year.

Exemptions

The board voted 6-5 against member Wayne Deslatte's attempt to change the way applications under the Louisiana Industrial Tax Exemption Program are considered.

The state program offers an 80% exemption from local property taxes for new industries and expansions at existing enterprises for up to 10 years. The state Board of Commerce and Industry once made the decisions, but after complaints about oversight and lost revenue, the rules were changed to give affected local governments the power to accept or reject applications.

That led to concerns that potential employers would be discouraged by the need to apply to multiple local boards. So Parish President David Hanagriff received permission to make the exemption decisions on behalf of municipalities, the School Board and the Sheriff's Office if an economic analysis showed a positive impact.

Last fall, the analysis showed a small negative impact from a small Metal Shark expansion creating two jobs with a payroll of $73,000, so Hanagriff went back to the local authorities. Franklin and the Sheriff's Office approved an exemption for Metal Shark, but the School Board said no.

Metal Shark got the expansion anyway after officials discovered that they'd missed a 30-day decision deadline.

Later, on Feb. 10, School Board President Kenny Alfred introduced a resolution that would have rescinded the decision to give its approval power to Hanagriff. That resolution failed on a 5-5 vote. Deslatte was absent due to illness.

Deslatte brought the resolution back Thursday, and again health played a role in the measure's failure by a 6-5 vote.

Board member Roland Verret, who voted to take back approval power in February, voted against Deslatte's resolution Thursday without intending to.

Verret said Friday that he suffers from a hearing loss for which he's seeking treatment. That and exhaustion prevented him from following much of the debate Thursday, he said Friday.

"I was confused ...," Verret said in an interview. "I didn't mean to stir anything up."

Verret and fellow members Joseph Foulcard, Tammie Moore, Pearl Rack, Alaina Black and Dwight Barbier voted against the resolution. Voting for it were members Deslatte, Ginger Griffin, Michael Taylor, Kenny Alfred and Marilyn LaSalle.

Friday's debate followed the lines drawn in February: the School Board's authority and need for tax revenue vs. cutting red tape and projecting a business-friendly image.

Deslatte, a former Board of Commerce and Industry member, said Thursday that he believes too many exemptions are being rubber-stamped.

In an interview Friday, Deslatte said the state has given authority to make exemption decisions to local governments.

"The School Board has the well-being of students and education as its function," Deslatte said. "That's the primary function. That is not the primary function of the parish.

"To give them, the parish, the power that was given to us by Baton Rouge doesn't seem right to me."

He also questioned Hanagriff's commitment to tax revenue to support teacher pay after the president's opposition to the recently passed 0.45% sales tax.

But Foulcard argued for the need to be inviting to potential businesses.

"They want to go one place [for approval]," Foulcard said. "They don't want to go every place."

Evan Boudreaux, the parish's economic development director, told board members he understands their desire to make their own exemption decisions.

But "I think we should come together and reform the process," Boudreaux said.

Also Thursday:

--The board accepted the low bid for construction of security alterations at five parish schools.

Del-Con of Berwick won the contract with a bid of $514,000 for the work at Berwick, Patterson and Centerville high schools, Lagrange Elementary and St. Mary Alternative School.

The School Board administration had estimated the work would cost $540,000.

Those schools are the last five in the parish to undergo the work, designed to direct school visitors to the office rather than allowing immediate access to common areas.

--The board adopted a calendar for the next school year. Students will come back from summer vacation Aug. 10. The last full day of class will be May 25.

Christmas vacation will be Dec. 22-Jan. 4, and the Mardi Gras break will be Feb. 20-24. The Easter holiday will be April 7-14.

The emergency days for making up time after unexpected school closures are Jan. 3-5 and Feb. 23-24.