Bossier Parish Police Jury: A legal opinion on a tax break for first responders, Hwy 80 traffic issues
Plus — Phone outage affects City Hall and others. 2nd Amendment tax holiday: A detailed list of what's eligible.
Bossier City weather — Today: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid-80s. Chance of rain 50%. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 70. Chance of rain 20%. Friday: Mostly cloudy in the morning, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. A slight chance of showers. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of rain 20%.
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Bossier Parish Police Jury: A legal opinion on a tax break for first responders, Hwy 80 traffic issues
The first responder tax credit passed by the state legislature but not adopted by the Bossier Parish Police Jury resurfaced at Wednesday's Jury meeting.
Parish Attorney Patrick R. Jackson said he had heard from most jurors about voting on the measure.
"As you know, we had our elected assessor come in and give you a short class on this process and what the effect would be, and I had several of you ask me for a written opinion on the topic, and I've been doing a lot of homework," Jackson said. "I have since spoken with the general counsel of the Louisiana Legislative Auditor half a dozen times. I've spoken with the council for the Louisiana Assessors Association a handful of times and researched the issue myself."
Jackson said the problem was that both organizations didn't agree on the result if the property tax exemption was implemented in Bossier Parish.
"This is not a political issue," he added. "I want you to be charged with the right information so that you can make the policy decision that you feel is best for the community."
Jackson said he would like to request an Attorney General's opinion on whether, if the Jury passed the first responder exemption, the rest of the Parish taxpayers would have to pay the difference.
The jury passed a resolution to seek the AG's opinion.
Jackson noted that the statute would also impact other parish taxing authorities, including the City of Bossier, the School Board, Cypress-Black Bayou, and the Sheriff's Office.
Any action by the Jury could be taken by the end of the year because taxes for 2024 have already been paid.
"They won't be due again until January. So there's no rush to do this now," Jackson added. "If you did it today, it wouldn't give the first responders any additional tax breaks, okay? That tax break comes once a year. It'll be in January."
Highway 80 traffic issues
In other business, Parish Engineer Eric Hudson mentioned a recent meeting with Louisiana Department of Transportation officials to discuss traffic issues following rapid development along the Hwy. 80 corridor.
"So we've got two developments going right now," Hudson said. "We're trying to coordinate some traffic studies so that we can do what's best for that area. I didn't want one developer spending money only to have the state tear it up and tell them to move it and do something different. So we're working through that."
Jury officials will meet with DOTD again Friday to continue the discussions, he said.
"So it was good for the parish and the state to work together to get these issues resolved," Hudson added.
Final-stage construction on the North-South Connector continues. When asked about a projected opening date, Hudson answered, "If I had to guess, I'd say closer to the end of October."
Justices of the Peace seek a raise
The Jury also heard from Bill Shelton, Justice of the Peace for District 1, who made a pitch for a raise for the 14 JPs in the parish.
"We'll hear disputes that are under $5,000. We do evictions, ejections, personal property seizures, repossessions, including automobiles, trailers, mobile homes, and boats. We can issue arrest warrants and set bail. In some cases, we can issue a search warrant and even substitute for the coroner," Shelton said.
He added that Justices of the Peace must pay for their own supplies, ink, pens, paper, and computers. "We get paid $300 a month by the parish," he said. "There hasn't been a pay adjustment since before 2005. We do collect court fees that help offset some of our costs."
Shelton requested a monthly raise to $1,000 for all JPs in the parish.
Bossier City government, businesses suffer phone outage
Bossier City experienced a telecommunications issue that is, as yet, unexplained. City of Bossier City officials reported Wednesday that government phone service had been interrupted.
Other businesses, including Barksdale Federal Credit Union, also reported down phone services. The Clerk of Court office also experienced an internet outage that affected its website, though it wasn't determined if it was related to the other reported issues.
The phone problem at City Hall apparently began early Wednesday morning and continued through the afternoon. City officials said "phone carriers are working to restore service as soon as possible."
City water customers attempting to pay their utility bills will want to know that, according to local officials, no late fees will be assessed for their water bills throughout the month of September.
Second Amendment Tax Holiday this weekend in Louisiana: A detailed list of what's eligible
The 2024 Louisiana Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday is scheduled for Friday, September 6, through Sunday, September 8, 2024.
State and local sales and use tax exemptions will apply to consumer purchases of firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies.
The exemption does not apply to business or commercial purchases.
The exemption applies statewide to all consumer purchases of firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies. Firearms eligible for the sales tax exemption include shotguns, rifles, pistols, revolvers or other handguns which may be legally sold or purchased in Louisiana.
Ammunition fired from a gun or firearm is eligible for the tax exemption as well. Hunting supplies which are used and designed for hunting are eligible for the exemption and include the following:
Archery items such as bows, crossbows, arrows, quivers, shafts, cases, and other archery accessories
Accessories designed for hunting
Apparel including safety gear, camouflage clothing, jackets, hats, gloves, mittens, face masks, and thermal underwear manufactured and marketed as being primarily for wear or use while hunting
Hunting shoes or boots designed for hunting
Bags to carry game or hunting gear
Tools manufactured and marketed as being primarily for use in hunting
Firearm cases and accessories
Pirogues
Range finders
Knives manufactured and marketed as being primarily for use in hunting. This excludes the purchase of knives by an individual for household, business, or other recreational uses
Decoys
Tree stands and blinds
Chairs to be used for hunting. This excludes an individual’s purchase of chairs or other furniture for household, business, or other recreational uses
Optics, such as rifle scopes, and impact resistant glasses for shooting, and binoculars if purchased to be used for hunting
Hearing protection gear and enhancements
Holsters, belts that are manufactured and marketed as being primarily for use in hunting, and slings
Miscellaneous gear manufactured and marketed as being primarily for use in hunting.
Purchases that are not eligible for exemption include: the sale of animals used while hunting, such as dogs, animal feed of any kind, sales or purchases of toys or off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles, golf carts, go-carts, dirt bikes, mini-bikes, motorcycles, tractors, motor vehicles which may be legally driven on the streets and highways of Louisiana, heavy equipment such as cranes, forklifts, backhoes, and bulldozers, or float tubes and vessels, such as airboats.
Bossier Night Market returns Saturday for one night only
This Saturday, the Bossier Night Market returns to the Pierre Bossier Mall. Over 240 vendors and 15 food trucks will be on site. The market is open from 4 pm to 9 pm Saturday only at Pierre Bossier Mall. Free admission and free parking.
There will also be kids' activities and live music.
Shop funnel cakes, street tacos, hunting and fishing gear, wood crafts, jewelry, art, jams, gifts, jelly, salsa, clothing, Cajun cuisine, handmade goods, vintage, ceramics, tamales, accessories, spice and seasoning blends, metal and stone craft, lumpia, wreaths, furniture, fruits and vegetables, paintings, decor, face masks, skin care, baked goods, kettle corn, candy, handcrafted soap, candles, crochet, shaved ice, home decor, honey, fresh squeezed lemonade,
A free fireworks show will be held at 9 pm.
The Bossier Night Market is held in the south parking lot of Pierre Bossier Mall at 2950 E. Texas St.
Bossier City free time calendar
Live music in Bossier City and other notable events in the area for your free time consideration. If you would like to add an event to the Bossier City free time calendar, send the details to email@bossiernow.com.
September 6: Kolby Cooper debuts at the legendary listening room of Louisiana Grandstand.
September 7: The Cleverlys, a one-of-a-kind, unique comedy and music experience at the Louisiana Grandstand. "If Dolly Parton, Earl Scruggs, and Spinal Tap spawned a litter of puppies, it would be The Cleverlys," says the New York Times.
September 12: Pony Bradshaw makes a rare Louisiana stop at the legendary listening room of Louisiana Grandstand. Catch Pony Bradshaw as he fuses Americana, rock, folk and many other styles.
September 13: Comedian Rodney Carrington at the Paradise Theatre in the Margaritaville Casino.
September 14: Cody Johnson, The Leather Tour at the BGA.
October 18: Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Darrell Scott at the Louisiana Grandstand.
October 20: Jelly Roll, The Beautifully Broken Tour, with Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay at the BGA.
October 26: Daughtry at the Paradise Theatre in the Margaritaville Casino.
November 1-3: Disney On Ice presents Frozen & Encanto at the BGA.
November 16: Creed, Are You Ready? Tour at the BGA with 3 Doors Down and Mammoth WVH.
November 23: William Clark Green brings his "Whole Lotta Lubbock" tour to his debut appearance at the Louisiana Grandstand. Green is tearing up Texas dance halls and filling venues nationwide with his hits like "She Likes The Beatles" and "West Texas in My Eye."
December 13: Creed Fisher at the Louisiana Grandstand.
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