DA Warren Montgomery sent an email to his supporters that explained the 1/7 of the cent sales tax he will propose to fund his office. In the letter he said upon taking office, he promised he would provide the community with high-quality legal representation.
He says he came into office and made many policy changes, which have proven successful and has been committed to providing swift justice and support for victims. He says these effective policy changes created efficiencies, which have translated into saving and returning to the Parish, over 3 million dollars. He asked supporters to visit DAMontgomery.org to learn more.
He goes on to say by law, the Parish must fund the District Attorney’s office and that Washington Parish recognized this in 2013 and passed a .33% cent sales tax to fund the expenses of the District Attorney’s Office in Washington Parish.
But the DA says most people are unaware that his 2022 budget was cut by over half by the Parish. He says the direct result of these budget cuts will be fewer timely criminal prosecutions and more criminals on the streets of St. Tammany Parish.
In order to stop the defunding of the DA’s office due to the Parish’s financial crisis, Montgomery says he must ask for a tax of less than 1/7 of a cent to be dedicated exclusively to continuing criminal prosecutions. These monies will be paid directly to the District Attorney’s Office and utilized solely for criminal prosecution and service.
The DA provided a copy of the proposition that would be on the ballot should this proposed tax move forward.
