Yesterday St Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper issued a statement about his support, or lack thereof, of the Coroner’s Office millage proposition on the Saturday, April 29 ballot.
He said he personally believed the Coroner asked for more than he needed and the voters agreed.
In December, Cooper said he suggested to the Parish Council that the millage requested be substantially lower as the bonds for construction of the facility and the DNA lab are scheduled to be paid off in 2025. Additionally, the Coroner’s Office had at least $10 million in their fund balance and that number has only increased.
Cooper said the item should have only been placed on the ballot after Parish Government was provided the intended uses for the money generated by the millage and for the large fund balance. He said the Coroner maintained the responsibility of requesting millage propositions regarding the office for inclusion on the ballot, as he did previously, with the approval of the Parish Council.
Cooper said the current millage funds the office through 2025.
