(The Center Square) — As conversations continue in meetings surrounding the speed cameras in the parish, the Caddo Parish School Board addressed funding received from the program.
Back in 2024, the Shreveport City Council passed a resolution that would give the Caddo Parish School Board 20% of the proceeds from speed camera citations in monitored school zone areas.
Board member Steve Umling brought up the Blue Line Solutions red light cameras, noting some people have raised concerns over the legality of them.
“I didn’t like the idea of getting that money. It was like extorting the taxpayer, for lack of words,” Umling said.
The speed camera program has received mixed feedback, as some reports say the cameras are not reading speeds properly.
“I believe we’re getting $60,000 basically a year. I’m not sure how correct I am on that figure, but I would sure like for that money to be dedicated towards some sort of activity with the schools,” Umling said in a recent Caddo Parish School Board meeting.
It is not clear how much the school board receives from these proceeds as of now. Recent reports from February say the Caddo Parish School Board received $400,000 of the $2 million the speed cameras brought in during the prior year.
Superintendent Keith Burton clarified where the citation proceeds go each year from the speed camera programs.
“Those funds are dedicated to Early Childhood Education. Those [funds] are coming from Blue Line Solutions via the city, and that is for school zone cameras only,” said Burton.
In a recent Shreveport City Council meeting, a vote was passed to include speed cameras in non-school zone areas.
According to Burton, there has been no conversation with the city or parish regarding the additional cameras recently voted on to be when it comes to proceeds. As of now, the Caddo Parish School Board only receives funding from speed camera citations in school-zone areas.
The new non-school zone cameras are expected to be installed in areas with a high rate of speeding drivers. Possible locations include Mayfair Drive, Pines Road, Russell Road, and others.
