Parish launches campaign for 0.25¢ sales tax to shore up courts, jail and DNA lab

St. Tammany Parish officials on Aug. 6 kicked off a public education campaign for a proposed 0.25¢ sales tax on the Dec. 12 ballot intended to fund mandated criminal-justice costs including the jail, district attorney, courts, coroner and the DNA lab.

Annie Perkins, the parish finance presenter, said the parish has only about $7 million in undedicated property tax revenue available for criminal-justice needs and that a dedicated sales tax would generate “approximately $18,000,000 annually.” Perkins described a long-term plan that pairs a short-term five-year sales-tax ask with efforts to reduce property-tax burdens elsewhere.

Consultant Sam Caruso, who led the presentation and campaign outreach, emphasized the proposal’s temporary design and said it was crafted to be "dedicated to provide criminal prosecution and court services in Saint Anthony Parish" as shown in the official ballot language read aloud to the council. Caruso said the measure would be a five-year dedicated levy and described it as the second step in a longer effort to restructure revenue sources.

The sheriff also addressed the council during the presentation period, warning of an immediate funding shortfall for the jail: "Last year, the sheriff's office transferred almost over $9,000,000 from our general fund to close the gap in funding at the jail. This year, with the proposed cuts, we're looking at having to transfer another $14,000,000," he said, asking officials and residents to help close the gap.

The presentation was informational only; council members were told there would be later town halls and Q&A sessions across the parish and materials posted online. Officials repeatedly noted that the sales-tax proceeds would be dedicated by voters and that any reallocation of restricted funds would require a separate vote of the people.