Public speaks out about bond

East Baton Rouge Parish residents will vote next Saturday on Mayor-President Kip Holden's bond issue, a $901 million tax package a full year in the making.

With only about a week left before the vote, supporters and detractors of the largest Baton Rouge public improvements campaign since the '60s have been rallying support to each side.

If the measure passes Nov. 14, East Baton Rouge Parish would see a new half-cent sales tax and a 9.9-mills property tax, about $41.5 million and $31 million per year, respectively.

Those funds would go to new public facilities in downtown Baton Rouge — like new parking garages and a Public Safety Complex. They would also go toward parish-wide projects, including drainage and a new parish prison.

Some of the newest supporters of the bond include Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu, who announced their support Tuesday.

Rannah Gray, a political and media consultant for Holden's office, said the issue has been supported by both the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce and multiple labor unions.

"It tells you how this issue has serious support when business and labor can come together and accept this will be good for everyone," Gray said.

Civic leaders of Baker also endorsed the bond Tuesday, including support from the mayor, police chief and fire chief.

The new parish prison proposed in the bond would be built just west of Baker and garnered support from the Baker police department for the vote.

Baker officials also said the city would benefit from the proposed drainage and sewage projects the parish desperately needs.

Gray said it is important to convince the areas outside Baton Rouge to support the vote.
She said residents of Baker, Central and Zachary could all benefit from improvements to the Baton Rouge economy.

Zachary's mayor Henry Morton said he still does not support the proposal because it lacks attention to many parish-wide issues in favor of focusing on downtown Baton Rouge.

"When I know something is right, I support it. And when I know it's not, I don't," Morton said. "I still don't believe this bond issue is right for the parish."

Morton also said the unstable economy makes voting on such an expensive, long-term project ill-timed.

The grassroots organization Progress Is formed last year
to support the bond issue and has continued supporting the program throughout the debate.

Todd Teepell, a founding member of Progress Is, said the young people who make up much of his organization are investing in Baton Rouge by supporting the bond.

"Our opinion is that Baton Rouge is a good city but is nowhere close to reaching its potential," Teepell said. "For some people, it's a test to see if they can really influence the direction of the city."

Teepell said Progress Is will continue to deliver information to local residents and dispel misinformation through canvassing and live meetings until the Nov. 14 vote.

Though they support infrastructure improvements downtown, The Baton Rouge Tea Party has spoken out against the bond because of the ALIVE campaign, a proposed educational and informational facility that would be funded by the bond.

"There is no private investment willing to come in and take the risk for the project," said Dwight Hudson, legislative action chairman for the BRTP. "That should be a red flag for voters that the proposal is too risky."

Hudson said BRTP might be more willing to support the taxes if they were separated into different issues. As it stands, the bond vote requires people to vote yes or no on a large package of proposals.



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Contact Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@lsureveille.com