(The Center Square) − The State Bond Commission approved a series of tax measures and bond sales across Louisiana, greenlighting over $300 million in funding for schools, infrastructure and public services.
The total sale amount okayed by the commission on Thursday includes significant allocations for education and community improvements.
One of the largest approvals was for the St. Tammany Parish School Board, which secured up to $325 million in general obligation bonds for school construction and improvements. This will fund new school projects and upgrades to existing facilities as outlined in the district’s Capital Improvement Plan.
Another major education-related approval went to the East Baton Rouge Parish Central Community School Board, which received authorization for up to $35 million in bonds for similar school-related expenditures.
The Beauregard Parish School Board was granted $30 million in general obligation bonds to improve schools and other education-related facilities. Additionally, the St. Martin Parish School Board and the Rapides Parish School Board secured $30 million and $27 million, respectively, for school infrastructure and equipment.
Infrastructure projects also received significant funding. The City of Westlake in Calcasieu Parish secured a 1% sales tax for 10 years to finance fire department stations, sewerage facilities, and public parks, among other projects. In Ascension Parish, multiple infrastructure districts, including the Belle Maison Subdivision and Pelican Point Golf Community, were approved for 15-mill taxes levied in perpetuity to maintain roads, drainage, and bridges.
The Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority was approved for up to $4.5 million in taxable revenue bonds for capital projects, including improvements to the Sans Souci Building, La Place Neighborhood Park, and the Buchanan Warehouse, which is set to become a cultural arts facility.
Public safety funding also saw significant approvals, including a half-percent sales tax in Calcasieu Parish to maintain law enforcement salary schedules and provide for future cost-of-living adjustments.
The Orleans Parish Law Enforcement District will also receive funding from a 2.46-mill tax for the next decade to support jail operations and the sheriff’s office.
Additionally, several hospitals and public health facilities secured long-term funding. The St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 2 will receive up to $51.5 million in bonds for projects focused on cancer care, emergency care, and women’s and infant health services.