The public vote on the St. Mary School Board’s half-cent sales tax is at least two months away. But the debate over its wisdom intensified last week at a series of meetings. The battle is between two opposing views of what the parish’s evolving economy needs most: low taxes to attract new business or a more competitive public school system. The board passed a resolution in December calling for a May 9 vote on the new half-cent sales tax, which would raise about $4.25 million a year. The money was to go to $3,000 annual pay raises for teachers and $1,500 raises ...