(The Center Square) — The months-long debate surrounding the Hosston TravelCenters of America truck stop sales tax increase is set to receive a final vote this week from the Caddo Parish Commission.
In Thursday’s regular session, the Caddo Commission will pass or deny a 2% sales tax proposed on the TA truck stop in Hosston Village. The tax has sparked heated and emotional council meetings over the past few months.
The ordinance seeks to establish a sales tax diversion per an alleged agreement made with Edgemont Holdings, LLC. However, resident Jon Glover said no written agreement was made public.
“I asked whether or not there were concrete documents that we actually entered into an agreement with this pilot program,” Glover said. “Though we have seen minutes that there were discussions, there was never really an agreement in writing that was done.”
While the commission will discuss the sales tax in Monday’s work session, the tax ordinance cannot be adopted before April 17.
Back in February, Commissioner Victor Thomas advocated for the tax saying, “I think it’s very important for us to be able to establish this tax so that we cannot only carry this burden across 10 years and two administrations, but also we can return this investment back to the citizens and also provide this property back to the parish tax rolls.”
Some commissioners did not agree.
An ICE raid on the truck stop in March further sparked public outcry. Officers detained seven foreign nationals at the truck stop on March 13.
“It’s kind of hard to stand by giving a tax break to a gentleman that’s not even employing Hosston citizens,” Commissioner Chris Kracman told The Center Square last month.
Commissioner John Atkins is also against the tax.
“District 1 Commissioner Chris Kracman, tells me that the people of North Caddo are not in support of the additional sales tax being proposed for the new truck stop and a total sales tax of approximately 12.5% does feel excessive,” Caddo Parish Commissioner John Atkins told The Center Square earlier this month. “Thus, I will be voting with Commissioner Kracman in opposition to the proposed sales tax increase.”
Not only is the commission divided on the issue, but truck stop developer James Silvio and Hosston Mayor Kim Jaynes have also made their stands known to the public.
“The extra 2% sales tax that’s being asked to pass, it has no effect on the citizens of Hosston or anybody in Caddo Parish,” Jaynes said in a commission meeting. “Only the people that are going to be buying from that truck stop.”
Kracman has concerns over the tax, saying it is the only truck stop available to Hosston residents.
The current sales tax at the truck stop is 10.6%. If the tax passes, it would increase to 12.6%.
The commission will vote on the ordinance on Thursday.
