Louisiana Parish Council: No Tax Swap for April Ballot

The Lafayette City-Parish Council has deferred action on a proposed April election that would have switched a property tax that funds police and fire service to a half-cent sales tax.

The Advertiser reports the council may still put the question on the November ballot, which would give voters the opportunity to decide if Lafayette residents should pay more money to the local government.

The council considered the election at its meeting Tuesday night.

The current property tax millages generate about $3.5 million annually for the Lafayette Police Department and another $2.4 million annually for the Lafayette Fire Department, but neither of those amounts are “sufficient to meet the needs” of the two departments.

The half-cent sales tax would bring in an estimated $16.2 million.