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After several months of feuding with lawmakers over funding for various projects and her administration’s COVID-19 restrictions, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has come out against the legislative leadership’s crown jewel on the fall ballot — Constitutional Amendment No. 1 to centralize sales tax collections.
Cantrell’s opposition is an unmissable development in this sleepy election, especially since New Orleans could account for as much as 25% of the overall vote in the Nov. 13 primary.
Statewide turnout is expected to be low, but a slate of hot local races in New Orleans makes the Big Easy the epicenter of this election cycle.
Beau Tidwell, Cantrell’s communications director, said the mayor views the amendment as a “political solution to a technological problem.”
She also has concerns about how lawmakers crafted the amendment, which is essentially a policy skeleton that lawmakers will have to return to Baton Rouge to fill out with legislation at a later date. (If the amendment passes.)
"That’s why leadership’s agreement with local governments was that this wouldn’t go to voters until the statutory enabling legislation was in place,” Tidwell said.
“What’s before voters is a blank check: a concept with no rules to follow. Most organizations or businesses would be uncomfortable with a scheme that allowed others to collect and hold revenues, while still being held responsible for accounts payable.”
The proposed amendment was a top priority for not only the legislative leadership, but also the business lobby.
The proposal received overwhelming support from legislators as well and the concept itself is often cited — in studies and by policy experts — as one of many ways Louisiana can improve its tax structure.
According to the Public Affairs Research Association, which analyzes proposed changes to our state charter, a vote for Constitutional Amendment No. 1 would “allow a single authority to oversee the collection, electronic filing and policy guidance for state and local sales taxes.”
A vote against the amendment would “continue to constitutionally require separate collection, filing and policy oversight of sales taxes by the state and local governments.”
Mayor Cantrell believes a good model for sales tax collections is already in place and that better technology is the path forward.
It’s also a better model for local control, according to the mayor, since municipal and parish leaders “have immediate access to their revenues and can see their revenue in real time.”
Until Cantrell made her stance known publicly, the proposed constitutional amendment faced very little organized opposition.
“If this passes, it will pull small businesses out of the dark ages and out of a spiderweb of regulations so they can reach a place where they can be competitive,” said Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack, who’s among those traveling the state to drum up support for the amendment.
“It’s the most important thing we can do coming out of this pandemic.”
Waguespack said he was impressed by how the legislative leadership created a bipartisan team to craft the amendment, and was pleased when local government associations jumped on the bandwagon.
“There may be a few local officials out there with concerns, but they’re outliers,” Waguespack said. “The coalition is broad and deep.”
If the amendment gains favor with voters, Waguespack said there’s a “healthy desire” amongst supporters to tackle the required statutory language during the 2022 regular session.
Both sides of this issue are already spending money to influence Louisiana voters, which is a difficult task no matter what’s on the ballot.
More times than not, there are more voters who participate in a ballot’s top race than in any of the amendments or propositions.
That means many voters walk into the booth, vote for candidates only and go home.
Those involved in the discussion over Constitutional Amendment No. 1 are certainly hoping to buck that trend. After all, whether you’re for the sales tax proposal or against it, more participation — especially if generated by a robust discussion with differing viewpoints — is always a positive and welcome development.
For more Louisiana political news, visit www. LaPolitics.com or follow Alford on Twitter @ LaPoliticsNow.

Emma Dell Carr O’Gwin, a resident and native of Patterson, La., passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 17, 2021 at her residence.
Emma will lie in state for viewing and visitation on Friday, October 22, 2021 at the Zion Chapel a.m.E Church 1511 Cherry St, Patterson, Louisiana 70392 from 10 a.m. until 12 noon. (All visitors are asked to adhere to the CDC-local regulations by wearing masks and practicing social distancing). Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. at the Patterson Civic Center 116 Cotten Road Patterson, La. 70392 with Pastor Richelle Lewis Castine, officiating. Burial will follow funeral services in the Morgan City Cemetery.
Emma leaves to cherish her memories: her children, Neva O’Gwin (Barry) Madise and Leroy O’Gwin, Jr., both of Patterson, La., nine grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.
Emma was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy O’Gwin Sr.; parents, Titus and Lorenza Jeff Carr; brothers, Charlie Carr, Alfred, Raymond, Lester, Robert and Henry; sisters, Mary Carr, Marjorie Mae Carr, Marguerite Waites, and Evelena Johnson.
Arrangements entrusted to Jones Funeral Home of Morgan City-Franklin-Jeanerette and Houma. Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.

The Morgan City Petting Zoo will hold its Fall Fest 2021 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday,.
Admission is $3 for children and $2 for adults. Children’s admission includes a treat bag on a first come, first served basis. This is a cash only event.
A costume contest is set for noon. The contest will be voted on by Facebook responses. A picture of each child participating will be posted on Facebook at approximately 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Voting will begin as soon as pictures are posted.
The original picture on the Petting Zoo posts must be liked or loved. Sharing is allowed and needs to include the original photo because in order to count as a vote the original picture that the Petting Zoo posts must be liked or loved.
Voting will continue until 8 p.m. Sunday. Winners will be announced after that and parents must contact the Petting Zoo by private message to arrange pick up of the prize.
Also sold during the event will be a pumpkin with a foam sticker face for $5 that children can use to decorate the pumpkin, and animal feed for $1.
Games will be spread around the zoo for the child to play and parents are encouraged to help.
Animal feed will cost $1.

(Editor's Note: This is the quarterly report from the citizens group St. Mary Excel on its third-quarter activities.)
St. Mary Excel has been working since 2018 across political subdivisions and the tenure of elected officials to implement recommendations of a community hosted Urban Land Institute panel visit.
St. Mary Excel submits reports quarterly to share progress toward panel recommendations.
St. Mary Excel submits this Quarter 3 of 2021 report. St Mary Excel:
—Hosted a local interest group meeting on Aug. 10, and made the meeting available on YouTube See parts 1-4 for the Aug. 10 meeting at https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=st.mary+excel
—Attended the state’s Atchafalaya River Basin Restoration and Enhancement virtual meeting,
—Applauded the award of two Atchafalaya National Heritage area grants. In the first, the town of Berwick received funds for the Brown House. In the second, the city of Morgan City received funding for seven additional subdivision signs.
The neighborhoods included are: Elliot, Walsh, Wyandotte, Golden Farms (Berwick), “Klingsville," “The Generals," “Coal Chute," and “Old Brashear.”
Persons in the named subdivisions should contact Laura Dozar at bdozar@teche.net to help select the neighborhood emblem.
—Continued to explore workforce development expansion in marine science and maritime training.
—Planned for National Estuarine Research Reserve Town Hall attendance and encouraged organizations and individuals to do the same. Resolutions of support have been submitted to the governor’s office by the city of Morgan City, St. Mary Parish Consolidated Government, the town of Berwick, the Port of Morgan City, the St. Mary Parish School Board, and St. Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin.
For more information on sending a resolution of support for your organization or as an individual email SaintMaryEXCEL@gmail.com.
Look for updated information on Town Hall meetings once Hurricane Ida recovery efforts subside.
—Communicated the benefits of the Atchafalaya Zone being named a National Estuarine Research Reserve by appearances at the Morgan City Rotary Club meeting; Community Foundation of Acadiana, St. Mary Parish Affiliate board meeting, KWBJ-22 Voice of the Coast talk show, and in two senior-level high school English classes.
—Applauded the city of Morgan City’s receipt of funding for biking/hiking paths from Recreational Trails ($277,000), Safe Routes to Public Places ($350,000), and Transportation Alternative Program ($425,423) grants.
In all the amount for Bike Morgan City path construction to date is nearly $1.2 million, which includes $102,000 from the H & B Young Foundation.
—Conducted a membership campaign allowing residents to receive direct e-mail copies of quarterly reports.
The campaign was been extended through Oct. 15 due to interruption in mail service. For more information on becoming a member, e-mail saintmaryexcel@gmail.com
—Initiated implementation of a USDA grant for business and entrepreneurial support in the Morgan City and Berwick area.
Free workshops are being provided in accessing historic and cultural tax credits, setting up a limited liability corporation, business budgeting, business accounting, business paperwork submission, and preparing for tax season sessions will be held. For more information see http://saintmaryexcel.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/BUSINESS-LEGAL-FLYE... or email saintmaryexcel@gmail.com
—Participated in the city of Morgan City’s branding initiative to update the City’s website and outreach.