(The Center Square) – Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said the newly proposed blight surcharge is his way of cleaning up the city and would only last 18 months if approved.
Arceneaux presented his 2026 budget proposal to the Shreveport City Council last week. It included a 2% blight surcharge to generate funding for tearing down buildings in need throughout the city. The mayor answered pressing questions on Tuesday regarding the charge.
“These properties are a drain on our neighborhoods, a risk to public safety, and a symbol of disinvestment,” said Arceneaux. “We’ve spent years citing these owners, and we’ve exhausted every legal and financial option. This proposal is about finally doing something to clean them up.”
Arceneaux said there are no state or federal grants available, meaning no alternative way to pay for this demolition process.
“We are going to explore whether the National Guard might be able to assist in the demolition process, if they are deployed to Shreveport as the governor has requested,” said Arceneaux.
In the budget proposal, Arceneaux suggested adding the surcharge to residents’ water and sewer bills. While this has raised questions, he said this is the most efficient way of collecting a temporary fee per household.
The cost breakdown of the fee is ultimately what concerns Shreveport residents most.
“The cost to each customer would depend on their water usage,” said Arceneaux. “However, someone using 4,000 gallons per month has a typical monthly bill (excluding those three fees) of $72.33. The 2% fee would cost them $1.45 per month, or just less than a nickel per day, a total of $26.10 after 18 months. A household using 6,000 gallons has a typical bill, excluding the fees, of $101.65, so the 2% charge would cost $2.03, less than 7 cents a day, a total of $36.54 after 18 months.”
To demolition all the blighted structures in the city, it would cost an estimated $2 million, according to the mayor’s office, leading them to set an estimated $3 million budget for this project.
If approved, the surcharge would generate $2 million in 2026 and $1 million during the first half of 2027. This would complete the city’s $3 million budget for demolition, and the fee would expire.
Next steps include discussion between the mayor and City Council over the next two months. In order for the 2% fee or equivalent to take effect Jan. 1, the council must vote on it Dec. 9.
A fee cannot be implemented without the City Council’s approval.
