Election Date Changed from Oct 9 to Nov 13th
Be Prepared at the Polls With the LWV-Lafayette Voter Guide. Cast an informed vote! VOTE BY MAIL OPTIONSUPDATE VOTER INFORMATIONWhat’s on the Ballot
Lafayette City and Parish Tax Propositions
Airport Millage Renewal
Parishwide Proposition No. 1 of 4
Airport Millage Renewal – 1.71 Mills Renewal – PC – 10 Yrs.
● A YES vote supports continuing the mill for the airport.
● A NO vote would eliminate this mill for airport.
Summary
This is a proposal to continue collecting an existing property tax dedicated to the Lafayette Regional Airport. This is a renewal of an existing tax and not an introduction of a new tax. This means that voters will pay no more toward support of the Airport than they are currently paying; nothing will change. In 2012, Lafayette Parish voted in favor of collecting a 1.71 Mills tax for 10 years to improve, maintain, and operate the airport. This tax renewal would continue that tax for an additional 10 years through 2023.
Here is an example of the millage contribution for a typical homeowner who qualifies for a homestead exemption:
Home Fair Market Value $200,000
Residential Property Assessment Rate. x0.10
Assessed Value =$20,000
Homestead Exemption -$7,500
Taxable Assessed Value $12,500
1.71 mills levy = $.00171 x.00171
Property Tax Due $21.38
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Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), continue to levy and collect a special tax of one and seventy-one hundredths (1.71) mills on all property subject to taxation in the Parish, for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2023 and ending with the year 2032 (an estimated $3,765,500 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for the purpose of improving, maintaining and operating the Lafayette Regional Airport?
Drainage Millage Continuation
Parishwide Proposition No. 2 of 4
(Drainage Millage Continuation) – 3.58 Mills Cont. – PC – 10 Yrs.
● A YES vote supports continuing the mill for drainage.
● A NO vote would eliminate this mill for drainage.
Summary
This is a proposal to continue collecting an existing property tax dedicated to drainage. In 2012, voters authorized for ten years a mill of 3.34 dedicated to drainage in the parish. This tax renewal would continue the tax for another ten years. Due to a decrease in commercial property tax values in Lafayette parish, the millage is to increase to 3.58 if renewal is approved. This means that although each property will be taxed at a higher rate, Lafayette parish will collect approximately the same total amount of revenue as the existing tax due to lower total property values. Because the same total amount will be collected, this tax is considered a continuation and not a new tax.
Here is an example of the millage contribution for a typical homeowner who qualifies for a homestead exemption:
Home Fair Market Value $200,000
Residential Property Assessment Rate. x0.10
Assessed Value =$20,000
Homestead Exemption -$7,500
Taxable Assessed Value $12,500
3.58 mills levy = $.00358 x.00358
Property Tax Due $44.75
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Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), continue to levy and collect a special tax of three and fifty-eight hundredths (3.58) mills on all property subject to taxation in the Parish, for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2023 and ending with the year 2032 (an estimated $7,883,300 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for the purpose of maintaining, operating and improving drainage works within and for the Parish, said millage to represent a twenty-four hundredths of a mill (.24) increase (due to reappraisal) over the 3.34 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2022 pursuant to an election held on November 6, 2012.
Library Millage Renewal
Parishwide Proposition 3 of 4
Library Millage Renewal – 1.84 Mills Renewal – PC – 10 Yrs.
● A YES vote on this millage would mean that for every $1,000 of taxable property the public library will continue to collect $1.
● A NO vote on this millage would eliminate this tax in support of the library.
Summary
This is a proposal to continue collecting an existing property tax dedicated to the Parish public library system. This is a renewal of an existing tax and not an introduction of a new tax. This means that voters will pay no more toward support of the Lafayette Public Library System than they are currently paying; nothing will change. This tax funds the Main Library and its nine branch locations throughout the parish. The public library is asking voters to renew the one and eighty-four hundredths (1.84) millage for another 10 years.
Here is an example of the millage contribution for a typical homeowner who qualifies for a homestead exemption:
Home Fair Market Value $200,000
Residential Property Assessment Rate. x0.10
Assessed Value =$20,000
Homestead Exemption -$7,500
Taxable Assessed Value $12,500
1.84 mills levy = $.00184 x.00184
Property Tax Due $23.00
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Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), continue to levy and collect a one and eighty-four hundredths (1.84) mills tax on all property subject to taxation within the Parish for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2023 and ending with the year 2032 (an estimated $4,051,700 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for the purpose of constructing, improving, maintaining and operating public libraries in the Parish, including the acquisition of equipment, books, materials and supplies?
Public Health Millage Rededication
Parishwide Proposition 4 of 4
Public Health Millage Rededication – 2.21 Mills Reded. – PC
● A YES vote on this millage rededication means that for every $1000 of taxable property, $1.98 will go to public health and $0.23 will go to fire protection.
● A NO vote means the tax remains as originally dedicated; for every $1000 of taxable property, $2.21 goes to public health.
Summary
The Lafayette Parish government is asking voters to rededicate part of a currently existing millage for public health that is paid by property owners and is currently authorized through November 18, 2025. This means the parish already collects this millage and is not raising new taxes. However, this proposition will change the use of approximately 10 percent of the public health tax and redirect it to fire protection for Lafayette Parish. In November 2018 voters in Lafayette Parish voted ‘no’ on a dedicated tax for fire protection for the unincorporated areas of the parish.
A millage rate determines the amount of taxes levied from a property. A mill is 1/1000 of a dollar.
Here is an example of the millage contribution for a typical homeowner who qualifies for a homestead exemption:
Home Fair Market Value $200,000
Residential Property Assessment Rate. x0.10
Assessed Value =$20,000
Homestead Exemption -$7,500
Taxable Assessed Value $12,500
2.21 mills levy = $.00221 x.00221
Property Tax Due $27.63
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Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), be authorized to rededicate the proceeds heretofore or hereafter received by the Parish from the levy and collection of a 2.21 mills tax (the “Tax”) on all the property subject to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $4,860,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), said Tax authorized to be levied through 2025 pursuant to Proposition No. 3 at an election held on November 18, 2017, for the following purposes: (i) 1.98 mills for the purpose of constructing, improving, maintaining, operating and supporting public health units, mosquito and other arthropod abatement and control facilities and programs and animal control facilities and programs, acquiring furnishings and equipment therefor, and paying mandated expenses of the coroner; and (ii) .23 mills for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and operating fire protection facilities, vehicles and equipment, including both movable and immovable property, that are to be used to provide fire protection in the Parish?
City of Lafayette - Police Millage Renewal
City of Lafayette Proposition No. 1 of 2
Police Millage Renewal – 3 Mills Renewal – CC – 10 Yrs.
Shall the City of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “City”), continue to levy and collect a special tax of three (3) mills on all property subject to taxation in the City, for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2023 and ending with the year 2032 (an estimated $4,627,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for the purpose of paying the costs of providing police salaries and salary related benefits in the City?
Summary
This is a proposal to continue collecting a property tax dedicated to the City of Lafayette Police Department. In 2012, the City of Lafayette voted in favor of collecting a 3 Mills tax for 10 years to support city police salaries and benefits. This tax renewal would continue that tax for an additional 10 years through 2023.
- A YES vote supports continuing the mill for the City of Lafayette Police.
- A NO vote would eliminate this mill for the City of Lafayette Police.
Here is an example of the millage contribution for a typical homeowner who qualifies for a homestead exemption:
Home Fair Market Value $200,000
Residential Property Assessment Rate. x0.10
Assessed Value =$20,000
Homestead Exemption -$7,500
Taxable Assessed Value $12,500
3 mills levy = $.003 x.003
Property Tax Due $37.50
City of Lafayette - Fire Millage Renewal
City of Lafayette Proposition No. 2 of 2
Fire Millage Renewal – 2 Mills Renewal – CC – 10 Yrs.
Shall the City of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the “City”), continue to levy and collect a special tax of two (2) mills on all property subject to taxation in the City, for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2023 and ending with the year 2032 (an estimated $3,085,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for the purpose of paying the costs of providing fire salaries and salary related benefits in the City?
Summary
This is a proposal to continue collecting a property tax dedicated to the City of Lafayette Fire Department. In 2012, the City of Lafayette voted in favor of collecting a 2 Mills tax for 10 years to support city fire salaries and benefits. This tax renewal would continue that tax for an additional 10 years through 2023.
- A YES vote supports continuing the mill for the City of Lafayette Fire Department.
- A NO vote would eliminate this mill for the City of Lafayette Fire Department.
Here is an example of the millage contribution for a typical homeowner who qualifies for a homestead exemption:
Home Fair Market Value $200,000
Residential Property Assessment Rate. x0.10
Assessed Value =$20,000
Homestead Exemption -$7,500
Taxable Assessed Value $12,500
2 mills levy = $.002 x.002
Property Tax Due $25.00
State Constitutional Amendments
Sales Tax Streamlining
A VOTE FOR WOULD
Allow a single authority to oversee the collection, electronic filing, and policy guidance for state and local sales taxes.
A VOTE AGAINST WOULD Continue to constitutionally require separate collection, filing, and policy oversight of sales taxes by the state and local governments.
CA NO. 1 (ACT 131, 2021 – HB 199) – Authorizes streamlined electronic filing, remittance, and collection of sales and use tax (Select 1) Do you support an amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for the streamlined electronic filing, electronic remittance, and the collection of sales and use taxes levied within the state by the State and Local Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Commission and to provide for the funding, duties, and responsibilities of the commission? (Adds Article VII, Section 3.1)
Tax Reform
A VOTE FOR WOULD Lower the maximum rate of the income tax and allow removal of a major state tax deduction, triggering statutory reforms for individual and corporate income and franchise taxes
A VOTE AGAINST WOULD Keep the Constitution’s current tax rates and the requirement to allow a deduction for federal taxes paid, which would stop all the statutory reforms.
CA NO. 2 (ACT 134, 2021 – SB 159) – Lowers maximum allowed rate of income tax and allows providing a deduction for federal income taxes (Select 1) Do you support an amendment to lower the maximum allowable rate of individual income tax and to authorize the legislature to provide by law for a deduction for federal income taxes paid? (Amends Article VII, Section 4(A))
Taxing Authority for New Levee Districts
A VOTE FOR WOULD Allow the boards of the levee districts created since 2006 to raise up to a 5-mill property tax without voter approval.
A VOTE AGAINST WOULD Continue to allow levee districts created since 2006 to get voter approval for any tax millage.
CA NO. 3 (ACT 132, 2021 – SB 87) – Allows certain levee districts to levy an annual tax for certain purposes (Select 1) Do you support an amendment to allow levee districts created after January 1, 2006, and before October 9, 2021, whose electors approve the amendment to levy an annual tax not to exceed five mills for the purpose of constructing and maintaining levees, levee drainage, flood protection, and hurricane flood protection? (Amends Article VI, Section 39)
Tapping more dedicated money to fix a deficit
A VOTE FOR WOULD Allow the transfer of more dedicated funds to fix a state budget deficit.
A VOTE AGAINST WOULD Keep the current 5% limit for tapping dedications to fix a deficit.
CA NO. 4 (ACT 157, 2021 – HB 487) – Increases amount of allowed reduction to certain dedicated funds when a budget deficit is projected (Select 1) Do you support an amendment to increase the amount of allowable deficit reductions to statutory dedications and constitutionally protected funds from five percent to ten percent? (Amends Article VII, Section 10(F)(2)(a) and (b))
Analysis of each of the state constitutional amendments is available from the Public Affairs Research Council. You can find the PAR Guide to the 2021 Constitutional Amendments HERE.
Election Day – Nov 13th
Polls open from 7 AM – 8 PM. All voters in line by 8 PM are eligible to vote.
What’s on the Ballot?
- Lafayette Parish Tax Propositions
- City of Lafayette Tax Propositions
Voter Registration Deadlines
By Mail/In-Person
Wednesday, Oct 13, 2021
Online
Saturday, Oct 23, 2021
Absentee Ballot Deadlines
Request Absentee Ballot
The deadline to request an absentee by mail ballot through the Secretary of State online voter portal or at the Parish Registrar of Voters is Tues. Nov. 9, by 4:30 PM.
Mail Ballot Return Deadline
The deadline for the Parish Registrar of Voters to receive your mail ballot is Fri. Nov. 12 at 4:30 PM.
Early Voting
Early voting will start on Saturday, Oct. 30th, and end on Saturday, Nov. 6th (except Sunday). You can vote early from 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM at one of the three below locations.
- Lafayette Parish Registrar of Voters, located at 1010 Lafayette Street.
Martin Luther King Recreational Center, 309 Cora Street
East Regional Library, 215 La Neuville Road
Hours of Operation
Sun, NO EARLY VOTING
Mon, Nov 1: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Tues, Nov 2: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Wed, Nov 3: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Thurs, Nov 4: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Fri, Nov 5: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Sat, Nov 6: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
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