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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.

September 19, 1940 — October 15, 2021
Carolyn Cancienne Barbier, 81, a native and resident of Morgan City, passed away peacefully, Friday, October 15, 2021 at her home, surrounded by her loving family.
Carolyn was born September 19, 1940, the daughter of Willard Paul Cancienne Sr. of Morgan City and Shirley Breaux of Gibson.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her daughter, Tammy Bonin and husband Curt of St. Martinville; son, Scott Barbier of St. Martinville; and granddaughter, Elizabeth Wooters of Scott.
Carolyn was cared for by April Legendre, Tessi Hebert and other sitters. April is a beloved family friend and the family of Carolyn want to say Thank you for everything!
Carolyn had a bright spirit, put a smile on everyone’s face, and could always make you laugh. She was well known for her involvement in AARP in Morgan City, and was known as “Elvis”. She also volunteered at the voting polls and was a pink lady at Teche Regional Hospital.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Emile “Emo” Barbier; parents, Willard and Shirley Cancienne; and brother, Willard Paul Cancienne Jr.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 30, 2021 at Mrs. Carolyn’s home. A memorial visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at Carolyn’s home, 919 Florence St. in Morgan City, Louisiana. Carolyn will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery with her husband, Emile.

Charles Fontenot, 63, a native of Covington, resident of Rayne and formerly of St. Mary Parish, died Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, at his residence.
He is survived by his wife, Tammy Fontenot of New Iberia; three daughters, Amanda Parker of New Iberia, Sabrina Fontenot of Rayne and Adella LaCoste of New Iberia; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers.
Visitation will be Saturday from 2 p.m. until services at 5 p.m. at Twin City Funeral Home, who is in charge of arrangements.

Louisiana voters soon will have the opportunity to consider four constitutional ballot amendments in this year’s fall election. All four items are tax and budget issues that could become permanent by majority vote.
Business groups such as the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry are encouraging passage of Amendments 1 and 2, which would centralize sales and use taxes and decrease the individual income tax rate for top earners.
“Louisiana’s business tax climate ranks among the worst in the nation,” LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack said. “A pair of tax reform measures on the November 13th ballot could change that, enacting constitutional amendments to finally simplify our system, meaning lower tax rates and more jobs in Louisiana.”
The Louisiana Budget Project, a Baton Rouge-based nonprofit, opposes the tax reduction amendment, saying passage could harm the state budget and lead to “less money for education, health care and transportation.”
The election’s two other proposed amendments deal with levee districts and state budget funding.
The fall election was scheduled for Oct. 9, but Gov. John Bel Edwards postponed Election Day to Nov. 13 because of Hurricane Ida. Most of Louisiana will see only the four constitutional amend-ments on their ballot, though some parishes and cities also will conduct local elections.
Amendment 1: Streamlin-ing sales and use taxes
The first ballot measure proposes amending the Louisiana Constitution to create the State and Local Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Commission, which would centralize the filing, remittance and collection of sales and uses taxes.
According to the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Revenue collects a state sales and use tax of 4.45%, while local governments collect sales and use taxes averaging around 5%.
However, Louisiana’s 64 parishes have differing tax policies and policy interpretations that complicate sales and use tax collection and remittance, though current law also protects them from state government encroachment, a PARC report said.
“This highly decentralized system is unusual; nearly all other states allow a central collector who remits the revenue to the appropriate state and local jurisdictions and acts as the central authority for how and when taxes should be applied,” the report said.
Amendment 2: Individual income taxes
A “yes” vote on Amendment 2 would decrease the maximum individual income tax rate from 6% to 4.75% beginning next year. Passage also would remove the ability to deduct federal income taxes from an individual’s state income tax liability, which is currently allowed. A “no” vote would leave the tax rate and federal deduction in place.
The Council for A Better Louisiana, a nonpartisan public interest group, sup-ports the proposal, which also would apply to corporations. CABL said in statement that reducing the top state income tax rate is “generally revenue neutral to the state and taxpayers.”
The Louisiana Budget Project disagrees, saying the amendment would amount to a “tax swap” that would benefit individuals and corporations that already have the highest incomes.
Amendment 3: Taxing au-thority for levee districts
Amendment 3 asks voters to consider a constitutional provision that would allow levee districts created after 2006 to raise taxes in dis-tricts where a majority of voters approve.
Passage would allow the levee districts to increase property taxes up to five mills, or $5 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The tax revenues would be used for “constructing and maintaining levees, levee drainage, flood protection and hurricane flood protection.”
Amendment 4: Funding budget deficits
The final ballot amend-ment applies to the state budget. Voters will be asked whether they support an increase to the amount of money currently allowed to cope with projected budget deficits.
The Louisiana Constitution and state law allows 5% of dedicated funding to be redirected to items other than what was originally intended. Amendment 4 would increase the limit to 10%.
The Public Affairs Re-search Council said dedicated funds can tie the hands of lawmakers, but also ensure legislatively approved programs and priorities. If the ballot proposal passes, current dedicated funding items would remain unchanged and joint legislative budget committees would have to approve any new changes.
All four proposed constitu-tional amendments were referred to the fall election ballot by the state Legisla-ture, after the amendments each received a required two-thirds vote in the House and Senate. Amendments 1 and 2 stem from three separate tax reform bills – House Bill 278, House Bill 292 and Senate Bill 161.
According to the Louisiana secretary of state’s office, residents can register to vote in-person or by mail until Oct. 13. Online registration will continue until Oct. 23. Early voting begins Oct. 30 and runs through Nov. 6.