Holden rips Marcelle’s annexation idea

Metro Councilwoman C. Denise Marcelle’s interest in annexing certain areas outside the city limits is a bad idea, according to Mayor Kip Holden, who says it would be cost-prohibitive and doesn’t make sense. “She rarely talks to us,” Holden says of Marcelle, who is increasingly at odds with the mayor politically. “She paddles her own boat without sitting down at the table and understanding that we have a budget to take care of Baton Rouge, and we have to work within the constraints of that budget.” At last week’s council meeting, Marcelle said she is working with the Parish Attorney’s Office to determine what is involved in expanding the city’s boundaries into certain unincorporated areas of the parish—specifically, Towne Center and Gardere. Marcelle says her proposal would be a way of increasing the city’s property tax revenues, since unincorporated areas are not subject to municipal taxes. But Holden says annexation would also mean the city is responsible for providing more services, which at this point is not practical, he says. “We have a top-rated fire district,” Holden says. “For us to provide free fire protection to Gardere would jeopardize that rating and would be cost prohibitive.” Holden says he will oppose any such effort, at least for now, adding that Marcelle “has to take a broader perspective of what is going on.” —Stephanie Riegel