Bossier Sheriff makes it official: He is raising his take of property taxes
Plus — Francine strengthens. Bossier City 9/11 Remembrance.
Beyond Bossier
Bossier Sheriff makes it official: He is raising his take of property taxes
Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington made it official at a public meeting Monday night: He is raising the taxes of Bossier Parish property owners.
The Sheriff said the millage roll forward would fund salary increases in the department.
Whittington's decision comes just days after another tax roll forward by Benton Fire District 4 Chief J.T. Wallace, Jr.
The Bossier Parish Police Jury and the Bossier Parish School Board have also publicly announced their intentions to raise taxes.
BossierNow background:
A recent reassessment by the Bossier Tax Assessor's Office raised property taxes for all homeowners in Bossier Parish due to higher values.
A millage is based on a monetary unit called a "mil" rather than a percentage. It's a tenth of a penny.
Local taxing authorities can either increase or decrease a millage due to the change in the tax-value base. A "roll back" of a millage lowers the tax rate to compensate for the increased valuation — meaning property owners pay the same amount of taxes.
A "roll forward" of a millage allows the taxing authority to gain additional revenue from the reassessment — in effect, a tax hike.
The City of Bossier City is the lone local taxing authority so far to announce it will roll back its millage to avoid a tax increase.
"Bossier Parish is flourishing and public safety is one reason why," the Sheriff said in a statement to BossierNow. "The men and women of BPSO put it on the line every day and night. They should be paid a salary commensurate with their job duty."
Whittington said the approved millage would allow the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office to go from fifth in starting pay to third with a $1,500 increase. Current employees will receive a $2,500 raise.
Other tax hikes on the horizon
The police jury's tax roll forward meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in the Police Jury Meeting Room at the Bossier Parish Courthouse.
According to state law, meetings for millage rollovers must be posted and "aggressively advertised." However, the Bossier Parish School Board has not yet posted a public notice for its millage meeting. BPSB Chief Financial Officer Nicia Bamburg said that two millages, the constitutional tax and the school salary tax, are eligible for the rollover.
"We have the option to roll both of those millages forward this year, and so it is going to be our recommendation, and we will be bringing it at the September meeting," Bamburg said at the August 1st school board meeting.
Tropical storm Francine still projected to slide east of Bossier Parish
Tropical Storm Francine is expected to make a slow north-northwest move this morning, followed by a turn to the northeast with an increase in forward speed, the National Hurricane Center says. On the current forecast track, Francine is anticipated to be just offshore of the coast of southern Texas today and make landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday.
"Francine will likely become a hurricane today, with significant strengthening expected before it reaches the coast," a National Weather Service advisory said early Tuesday morning. "Showers and thunderstorms will be possible across portions of central and north central Louisiana, and even as far southwest as Deep East Texas this afternoon."
Though severe weather is not expected in the Bossier Parish area, gusty winds and lightning may accompany any developing storms.
While two to four inches of rainfall, which could be heavy at times, will be possible across South Central Arkansas and much of Northeast and North Central Louisiana, the Bossier Parish area will likely see only about one inch of rain, the NWS says.
Bossier City 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
The City of Bossier City will host the 23rd annual September 11th Remembrance ceremony tomorrow. Brig. Gen. Rob VanHoy, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), Southwest Asia, will be the guest speaker.
Bossier students will play a major role in the event, presenting colors and leading the Pledge of Allegiance. The “What is a Hero?” student essay winner will read their winning submission.
Students from the Camp Minden Youth Challenge Program will place flags along POW Drive.
The event will be held on Wednesday, September 11, at 9:00 a.m. at the Liberty Garden at the Bossier City Municipal Complex, 620 Benton Road.
The City of Bossier City is hiring
The City of Bossier City is accepting applications for current job openings. Positions are available in Traffic Engineering, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Public Utilities and Sales Tax.
Applicants may apply online at bossiercity.org/jobs, submit a resume and application to jobs@bossiercity.org, or apply at City Hall, 620 Benton Road.
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As a citizen I want to be able to vote on whether a tax increase is necessary or if it should stay the same. With all homes being assessed higher this is a significant increase in our taxes. The parish should be able to split the taxes received and take care of their needs. Furthermore with all the apartments in Bossier Parish this means those persons living in them will not have to have to pay increased taxes, only homeowners will. This is not fair that homeowners must carry the load. Put it on the ballot and let us voters decide on tax increases.