(The Center Square) – The Shreveport City Council voted to postpone three ordinances that, if passed, would approve existing millages in place for the current year.
While the millages are not new, the council must vote yearly to continue collecting the various taxes highlighted in each ordinance. Instead of voting on the three ordinances during last week’s City Council meeting, the panel voted to postpone until June 10.
Ordinance 39 seeks approval to levy and collect taxes totaling 17 mills on all taxable property in Shreveport. According to the background information for the ordinance, six props were passed during the April 2023 special election by voters for five years ending December 2027. While 2025 is not a reassessment year, the City Council should vote each year for the tax assessors in both Caddo and Bossier parishes to assess properties. A vote is also needed for the finance director to collect the taxes.
The 17 mills consist of a street improvement tax of 1.08 mills, recreational facilities tax of .80 mills, salary and wage schedule tax of 1.08 mills, police and fire personnel, uniforms and equipment tax of 1.08 mills, pensions, employee life insurance and hospitalization plan for city employees tax of 1.63 mills, three platoon system tax of 1.42 mills and a general alimony tax of 9.91 mills.
Ordinance 40 seeks approval to levy and collect taxes totaling 11.318 mills on taxable property in Shreveport. The collections from this go towards paying principal and interest on the outstanding general obligation bonds of Shreveport, which include 4.671 mills for water and sewer, 1.915 mills for parks, recreation, police, fire, and finance, 2.232 mills for streets and drainage and 2.5 mills for public safety series 2022.
Ordinance 41 seeks approval to levy and collect 9.04 mills per dollar on taxable property in the Downtown Development District of Shreveport. This tax was voted on in 2002 and ends in December 2027. Similar to the other millages, the city council must authorize the continuation each year. This tax is on taxable property within the boundaries of the Shreveport Downtown Development District. It provides funds for administration, operational expenses, capital improvements, project expenses or retirement of bonds and other uses within the district.
The council will discuss the millage renewals at the June 10 meeting.
