St. John the Baptist Parish School Board adopts adjusted and roll-forward millage rates after recess and reconsideration

The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board adopted two related tax resolutions at its June 17 meeting in LaPlace, approving both adjusted millage rates and a roll-forward increase not to exceed the prior year’s maximum rates.

Superintendent Dr. Lynett Hookfin presented Resolution No. 1, levying adjusted millage rates. After the resolution was read in full and a public comment urging board redistricting, the board voted to approve the measure. The record shows the original vote on Resolution No. 1 passed with seven yeas (Holden, Sanders, DeFrancesch, Schum, Wallace, Triche, Mitchell), one nay (Burl) and three members absent (Keller, Jones, Johnson). A substitute motion by Mr. Burl to table Resolution No. 1 failed for lack of a second.

The board then considered Resolution No. 2, a motion to roll forward or increase millage rates where permitted. That motion (made by Mrs. Schum and seconded by Mr. Holden) initially received seven yeas and one nay but failed because Louisiana law requires two-thirds of the entire membership for adoption. The board recessed and reconvened; after reconsideration was moved and carried by the necessary two-thirds, the board adopted Resolution No. 2. The board record cites compliance with Article VII, Section 23(C) of the Louisiana Constitution and R.S. 47:1705(B).

The resolutions list both adjusted operating mills and a total school board bond millage of 11.00 mills. Resolution No. 1 set combined total mills at 28.54 for 2021 (including constitutional, maintenance, salaries, retiree benefits, academic improvement and bond allocations). The roll-forward schedules recited in Resolution No. 2 show adjusted levy and bond components consistent with the board’s reading of the measures.

Board President Nia Mitchell-Williams presided over the session. No additional fiscal impacts beyond the levies recited in the resolutions were specified at the meeting.

The board noted statutory compliance steps: the Assessor is to extend the levies on the assessment roll and the tax collector will collect and remit the taxes in accordance with law. The resolutions were certified on the record by Board President signature.