Publisher: CATS tax doesn’t deserve your vote

Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister says he understands the purpose, necessity and importance of developing a quality mass transit system in a growing city such as Baton Rouge. Nonetheless, McCollister says in his latest column, “This CATS tax plan should be euthanized.” The tax plan—which would provide a dedicated funding stream to the Capital Area Transit System via a 10-year, 10.6-mill property tax on those in Baton Rouge, Baker and Zachary—lacks leadership and doesn’t ensure accountability if passed, McCollister says. “The mayor, Metro Council, Baton Rouge Transit Coalition and CATS board are all responsible” for the shortcomings of the plan, he says. And because the tax district was drawn up to exclude many voters in East Baton Rouge Parish, it “would essentially benefit the entire community, but, it seems, only some in the community will pay for it,” he says. “Voters should turn down the tax and dare [Mayor Kip] Holden and the Metro Council—who are all up for re-election this fall—to let the CATS system come to a screeching halt. You watch, they’ll blink. And then we can discuss all our community’s needs as a whole for the future, including our priorities, taxes and resources,” he says. Read the full column here. Send your comments to editors@businessreport.com.