In St. Tammany Parish voters passed funding renewals to support local public schools but rejected a sales tax that would’ve raised money for criminal justice.
This is now the fourth time the parish has failed to find a way to get voters to approve more funding.
This proposal was for a less than half-cent sales tax for seven years to fund the courthouse and jail.
Voters refused this latest proposition with 66% of the electorate voting down the proposal.
Had the proposition passed it would have generated $22-million dollars a year. The money was earmarked for operations costs and maintenance of the jail, the 22nd District Court and the DA’s office.
The State mandates that the Parish to cover those costs.
The Parish has been paying these mandated costs with a reserve fund, but that fund will be drained by March.
