EBR schools taxes up for renewal April 6

A pair of property taxes that provide about 10% of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s funding are up for renewal April 6. The two proposals combined are equal to 13.69 mills and are expected to raise more than $42 million per year toward salaries, benefits and aid to schools. Although property taxes in the city of Baton Rouge went up this year, due to the new transit tax, system officials expect voters will approve the renewals, system spokeswoman Susan Nelson says. “Obviously, there would be significant concerns if it didn’t go through,” she says. “The community has been really good to the school system. We don’t really have any reason to think they won’t continue to be supportive of the school system.” She says the system will be working with organizations that support it, reminding them to get out and vote. The renewals would be for 10 years. April 6 is a municipal primary election date in Louisiana. Nothing else is on the ballot in the area covered by the EBR school district, although there is a special election for a school board seat in Zachary. “That’s the date we were given, because that’s when the tax has to be renewed,” Nelson says. The system’s total budget is about $405 million, counting federal, state and local money. —David Jacobs