City of St. George Won’t Need New Taxes

A high-ranking official of a company that administers privatized cities such as the City of Central says a computer model his firm uses indicates the revenues of the proposed City of St. George would be more than sufficient to cover its expenses without the need for additional taxes.  

The official said, “The population of St. George is four times greater than Central, but the tax base is about 10 times greater.  Central is basically a residential community, whereas St. George has a strong commercial and retail base.  St. George will be able to cover all of its expenses and have a very larger surplus left over.  I assume that surplus will be used in part to improve the roads and streets in St. George.  But there is little doubt there will be a tax surplus and certainly no need whatsoever for a tax increase.”

His statement came just as opponents of St. George launched a campaign to convince voters that creation of the City of St. George will raise their taxes.

Meanwhile, pro-St. George incorporation leader Norman Brown-

ing said St. George opponents are using fear tactics and targeting elderly voters with false claims that St. George will raise taxes.

“On its face, it’s so illogical,” Browning said. “The very purpose 

of St. George is to get out from under the high tax, big government policies of Baton Rouge and allow our citizens to keep our tax dollars in St. George.  This is the  most prosperous part of the parish with the strongest tax base.  The existing tax structure is more than sufficient to fund the City of St. George and provide a strong surplus.  Where do you think you are more likely to have a tax increase — Baton Rouge or St. George?  That is obvious.”

Organizers of St. George say one of the most important results of incorporation will be the eventual formation of an independent community school system. Using Zachary and Central as their model, St. George could end up having one of the best school systems in the state, if not the best.  The big push to create a new school system is likely to come within a year or two after the incorporation.

St. George is a citizens movement composed of volunteers and no big backers. They have been opposed by The Advocate newspaper, BRAC, BRAF, and big money interests in Baton Rouge. 

It’s a case of David vs. Goliath. Suddenly, Davis is winning!

Reprinted from the October 2019 edition of St. George Leader.