News Alert: Caldwell declines to issue opinion on CATS tax

Louisiana Attorney General James “Buddy” Caldwell will not weigh in on the constitutionality of the CATS property tax passed in April by voters in Baton Rouge and Baker, according to a letter Caldwell sent Tuesday to state Sen. Dan Claitor. “Please be advised that it is the policy of the Attorney General not to furnish opinions on questions of fact or on matters where the relevant facts are in dispute or where the matter is the subject of pending or imminent litigation,” Caldwell wrote. “Accordingly, the Attorney General will decline to issue an opinion on this matter based on the likelihood of litigation of the matters that are the subject of the opinion request.” On Tuesday, Milton Graugnard, executive vice president of Cajun Industries, gave notice to Daily Report that he is suing CATS over the 10.6-mill property tax, after filing a petition on Friday in the 19th Judicial District. On July 5, Claitor told Caldwell in a letter that the CATS election “runs afoul of the right to equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the federal and state constitutions. As much as citizens would like a properly funded and accountable service, a constitutionally flawed method of obtaining funding for the service cannot be ignored.” The tax was proposed for property owners in Baton Rouge, Baker and Zachary city limits; it failed passage in Zachary. Like Claitor and Graugnard, many have found issue with CATS bus routes serving some areas in the Greater Baton Rouge area outside of city limits. To read Caldwell’s letter to Claitor, click here. —Adam Pearson