Cajun Coast reps defend tourism work
Staff report
Cajun Coast representatives defended their agency’s work Wednesday against allegations by Parish President Sam Jones, who in turn was called to defend his view that parish government finances are in bad shape.
Also at Wednesday’s Parish Council meeting, members endorsed Hospital Service District No. 2’s call for a Dec. 7 election on whether to levy a 9-mill property tax.
At the June 26 Parish Council meeting, Jones said the St. Mary Parish Convention and Tourism Commission, which has adopted the name Cajun Coast, had $2.6 million in its accounts at a time when he is trying to head off a potential budget shortfall of $1.5 million-$2 million.
Jones cast doubt on the tourism body’s effectiveness, pointing to what he said was a five-year delay in erecting two welcome signs and the failure of a welcome center in Franklin.
The Cajun Coast brand hasn’t been an effective tourism draw either, Jones said.
On Wednesday, Cajun Coast Executive Director Carrie Stansbury told the council that tourism supports 505 jobs in St. Mary. Without tourism, Stansbury said, St. Mary families would have to pay $265 a year to make up the difference in tax proceeds.
And she citied internet statistics indicating that the word “Cajun” attracts web searches that can lead people to the Cajun Coast site. And visitors at the Welcome Center in Morgan City were up 15% in 2023, Stansbury said.
The money for the welcome signs came from the Legislature with a stipulation that the money not be used for consultants, Stansbury said. But Cajun Coast lacked the knowledge needed to create signs that meet Department of Transportation and Development, leading to the delay, she said.
“The very fact that it takes five years to create two signs — we won World War II in four years,” Jones said.
The Franklin visitors center was moved from its place at Northwest Boulevard and U.S. 90 to a spot on the service road to accommodate then-Gov. Mike Foster’s push for overpasses, with the understanding that an exit would be built nearby, Stansbury said. The exit was never built, and the center was closed because of low visitor numbers, Stansbury said.
She also defended the Cajun Coast board’s fiscal responsibility.
“They’ve always understood the importance of being good stewards with public funds,” Stansbury said.
Commission Chair Kimberly Walden told the council that the board’s responsible actions shouldn’t be held against members.
“Our fiscal stability should not make us a target or a bank for the parish …,” Walden said.
“Until this ‘I said, therefore you will’ approach to leadership stops, and we can have meaningful conversations regarding the demands and expectations … we will never advance the parish and meet its true potential.”
Also appearing Wednesday was Vickii Melius, governmental affairs director for the Louisiana Lieutenant Governor’s Office, which is the top state tourism authority.
“Our office highly values the guidance and information provided by St. Mary Parish Tourism as we promote locations statewide,” Melius said.
“They play a crucial role in our tourism industry. Their efforts to promote St. Mary Parish are essential for developing the region, for increasing visitors to our state and for the economic development it creates.”
Council members Patrick Hebert of Berwick and the Rev. Craig Mathews of Jeanerette both spoke in support of Cajun Coast.
Budget
During his report to the council, Jones rated the parish’s fiscal condition as “terrible” but said it’s getting better.
He also offered a caution: The account for the 3/10th-cent sales tax enacted in western portions of the parish contains only what he said is an IOU. The money has been diverted to the general fund.
Mathews objected to Jones’ remarks about the sales tax and about the parish’s financial position in general.
“Until you can validate and substantiate and put it in writing in front of us, I would rather you not even report this to us,” Mathews said.
Jones’ response: “You’re the chairman.”
The president also said he won’t lie about the budget.
Hospital tax
Hospital Service District No. 2 owns the Morgan City hospital operated under lease by Ochsner Health. The district board voted July 3 to call for the Dec. 7 tax proposition creating a 9-mill property tax.
The tax would be used to make repairs and renovations on the building, which the board says are needed to protect the public investment.
With the passage of Wednesday’s resolution endorsing the call for the election, the matter now goes to the State Bond Commission.