(The Center Square) — The Shreveport City Council will decide citywide millages and proper definitions for blighted and abandoned properties during this week’s city council meeting.
The Caddo Commission set parishwide millages last week. This week, the Shreveport City Council will do the same for the city. The discussion surrounding blighted properties will continue as the council votes to possibly amend definitions in the Housing and Property Standards Code of Ordinances.
Three ordinances concerning citywide millages are on the agenda but are not new. The millages are for renewals at the current rate.
Ordinance 39 is for 17 mills, including 1.08 mills for street improvement, .80 mills for recreational facilities, 1.08 for salary and wage schedule, 1.08 for police and fire personnel, uniforms and equipment, 1.63 mills for pensions, employee life insurance and hospitalization for city employees, 1.42 mills for three platoon system tax and 9.91 mills for general alimony tax.
Ordinance 40 is for 11.318 mills, which goes towards the principal and interest on outstanding general bonds. The 11.318 mills 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 2.50 mills for public safety series 2022.
Ordinance 41 is for 9.04 mills for the Downtown Development District of Shreveport.
The council postponed the vote during the May council meeting to June 10.
Property standards language concerning blighted and abandoned properties will also be determined as the city continues its ongoing battle to combat blight throughout Shreveport.
Ordinance 38 has been on the council agenda since its introduction in early May and could not be adopted before the June 10 meeting. If passed, the definitions proposed will fully comply with state law, allowing Property Standards to file liens to secure different costs incurred related to blighted and abandoned structures.
The city council will meet on Tuesday to discuss the ordinances for final passage.
