Jones gives legislative report to the Franklin City Council

State Rep. Sam Jones gave his penultimate report to Franklin City Council and mayor Tuesday, following the close of the latest session of the state legislature.
Jones advised that through close work with State Sen. Bret Allain and Governor John Bel Edwards, he had secured a $1,000 individual pay raise for teachers across the state, made sure state universities are fully funded, vocational and technical colleges are fully funded, the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students is fully funded, “and if nobody messes with the revenue stream, all of those things will be fully funded for the next six years.”
Locally, Jones reported securing $1.2 million to finish renovations on Franklin City Hall, $2.4 million in Capital Outlay funds to reconstruct Cayce Street, incremental funding over five years to install a gate in Bayou Teche (east of Victory Island, off the Charenton Canal).
“Which means,” Jones said, “that very soon we will be completely ringed off as a community, from Centerville all the way to the Charenton Canal, where we can take an eight or nine-foot surge from a hurricane and not disrupt anyone.”
He went on to report that the construction for a vocational school that is planned to be erected at the Port of West St. Mary’s industrial park site is still on schedule; $20,000 is budgeted for the rehabilitation of the Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts; $20,000 has been budgeted for the Main Street revamping program (2.0); $25,000 has been made available to finish renovating the post office on Willow Street; $5,000 has been budgeted for the annual Harvest Moon Festival; $5,000 has been secured for the annual Bayou Teche Black Bear Festival; and St. Mary Council on Aging “got a raise.”
Amidst applause, Jones closed by saying, “In my 12 years in the legislature, I believe I have been able to bring back to this district and my parish about $600 million. And, as best as I can tell, John Alario is the only one who got more money than I did.
“But, it takes knowing your district and knowing their needs.”
“I don’t want this to be my ‘farewell’ night,” he said. “I will come back one more time before my term ends.”
Jones’ term will be up by the end of this year.