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Early voting begins Saturday in St. Mary for five special purpose district bond and tax propositions.
Registered voters can cast ballots at either Registrar of Voters Office at the Parish Courthouse in Franklin or at 301 Third St., Suite 6, Morgan City. Bring a photo ID to the polls.
Early voting hours are 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. each day through April 20. The regular election date is April 27.
On the ballot:
—In Gravity Sub-Drainage District No. 1 of Gravity Drainage District No. 2, a renewal of a 12.63-mill property tax for 10 years.
—In Ward 4 Fire Protection District No. 2, a 4-mill property tax renewal for 10 years.
—In Water and Sewer Commission District No. 4, a $1.7 million bond for 15 years.
—In Wax Lake East Drainage District, Proposition 1 seeks renewal of a 3.28-mill property tax for 10 years.
—In Wax Lake East Drainage District, Proposition No. 2 seeks a $2.5 million bond for 20 years.

A controversial bill funneling state school aid into accounts that parents could use to pay for private schools has passed the Louisiana House.
HB 745, by state Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Lafayette, passed Monday by a 71-32 vote. The bill now goes to the state Senate.
Supporters say the universal education savings accounts will empower parents and improve education. Critics note that the accounts would be available even for the most affluent families while it takes money out of public school classrooms without holding private schools to the same accountability standards.
The St. Mary Parish School Board voted in a special meeting March 27 to oppose the legislation.
As the name implies, the accounts would be open to any family regardless of income, although lower-income families would receive more per student.
The accounts would be phased in over three years beginning in 2025-26. The Public Affairs Research Council analysis says that when the program is fully phased in, families with incomes of up to 250% of the federal poverty guideline would receive $7,550 per student per year in the accounts, or about 80% of the combined local and state funding.
Students with certain disabilities would receive 60%, or $5,662. All other students would be eligible for $5,190.
The Legislative Fiscal Office estimates the cost to the state at $240 million-$260 million in the early years. But PAR’s estimate is that when the program is fully implemented, the cost will be closer to $560 million. The discrepancy comes mainly from estimates of how many families with students already in private schools will seek funds through the education savings accounts.
Speaker of the House Phillip DeVillier says Louisiana’s educational rankings have been near the bottom for decades, and legislators across the state are making education reform a top priority.
“These bills support our teachers and our students,” said DeVillier. “By focusing on education reform we have the chance to give young people every opportunity for success in school.”
“HB 745 will empower parents to make the best educational choices for their children,” said Emerson.
Additional educational bills already receiving favorable passage in the House include:
—HB 320 by Rep. Chuck Owen repeals policies requiring teachers to teach supplemental topics outside of the basic curriculum in schools until a review by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education can be conducted.
—HB 647 by Rep. Troy Romero reduces the training requirements for educators giving them more time to focus on teaching adopted curriculums.
Meanwhile, several education-focused bills are actively moving through the committee process in the House:
—HB 143 by Rep. Tony Bacala authorizes the state superintendent of education to hire a chief operating officer to make recommendations to local school systems about complying with the MFP’s minimal instruction expenditure requirement.
—HB 244 by Rep. Jason Hughes expands the Steve Carter Literacy Program to include educational services in math and boosts the scholarship amount from $1,000 to $1,500.
—HB 267 by Rep. Kim Carver provides for an annual math assessment of all students in kindergarten to third grade to screen for proficiency.

Glenda Darlene Brownlee, 63 years, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and resident of Morgan City, Louisiana, passed away on Thursday, April 4, 2024, surrounded by her loved ones.
Glenda is survived by her sons, John Jones (Stephanie), Jaymie Brownlee (Jessica), and Cody Brownlee (Alanna); her daughters, Misty Claunts (Wesley), Shawnna White, and Kate Brownlee; her brothers, Ronald Brownlee (Shirley), Jeff Brownlee (Kerri), and Mike Brownlee (Betsy); 25 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren
Glenda was preceded by her parents, Robert Lee Brownlee and Johnnie Jo Brownlee Avance; her brother, Charles Wayne Brownlee; her sisters, Bobbie Quilla Dupont, Mohrea Brownlee Nelms; and her grandson, Layton Matthew Brownlee.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a visitation in honor of Glenda on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Twin City Funeral Home in Morgan City, Louisiana, beginning at 11:00 a.m. until the Funeral Service at 1:00 p.m. Glenda will be laid to rest following the service in St. Lawrence Cemetery in Chacahoula, Louisiana.

Efforts to end Louisiana’s vehicle inspection regime is being deferred temporarily so lawmakers can find a way to fill a revenue hole that the measure could create. 
House Bill 344 would halt the $10 safety inspection requirement most vehicles receive. Drivers are cited if their inspection sticker is missing or out of date. It is sponsored by Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Stonewall. 
Bagley told the Appropriations Committee in the House of Representatives on Monday that he had “numerous discussions” with state officials on how to fill the revenue gap if the state does away with the annual vehicle inspections. Next
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“I assured them that they would lose no money,” Bagley said. “We’re still in the process of moving some money around, but it’s not there yet.”
Bagley also said that in his discussions with the State Police, they’ve begged him that they not lose any more money, especially since the passage of concealed carry without a permit reduced their revenues. 
Rep. Troy Romero, R-Jennings, said what Bagley was doing “was very admirable.” He said he would be willing to pay an extra registration fee “so my car won’t have to be inspected every year.”
Bagley says there is universal support for the bill. He also said he understood the need for the program “20 to 25 years ago when cars weren’t made as well, there might’ve been a need for that. With the standards with cars now, you can drive a car one hundred, two hundred thousand miles without any problem.”
A new fiscal note says eliminating the inspection stickers would cost the state about $11 million in annual revenues, which go to the Department of Public Safety, the Office of Motor Vehicles and the Office of State Police. 
The bill has been amended to increase the fee of annual emissions control stickers for vehicles in parishes governed by the U.S. Clear Air Act from $8 to $18. The five are Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston and West Baton Rouge.
The amendment would also provide $9 of each inspection sticker to the State Police and $1 to the Office of Motor Vehicles.
The bill was approved by the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works last week.
At present, revenues from the stickers are distributed to the shop performing the inspection ($4.75), with the remainder going to the state Department of Public Safety & Corrections and Public Safety Services.