Mail: No new taxes for jail

The Town Talk

For those residents in Rapides Parish who must pay property taxes, they are aware that they are currently paying "hefty" property taxes already. As we observe the discussions that the Rapides Parish Police Jury and Sheriff are negotiating, one fact is clear: There should not be any tax proposals for a new jail in Rapides Parish for now or in the distant future.

Rapides Parish taxpayers are currently paying for two separate tax millages for the Sheriff's Department. The Sheriff's Department is also receiving funding from local sales tax, and any state and federal grants they can receive.

Rapides Parish homeowners who pay property taxes are not only paying for tax millages for the Sheriff's Department, but also other tax millages such as all parish libraries, Red River Waterway Commission, all parish schools and fire department protection. To say the least, Rapides Parish taxpayers are getting loaded with more and more property taxes. Currently, there are about 15 different tax millages that Rapides Parish homeowners pay for.

In today's building cost for correctional facilities, a new jail would probably cost Rapides Parish taxpayers about $40-50 million to construct. Taxpayers are already paying a tax millage for a $25 million Rapides Parish Coliseum.

The math is simple. Rapides Parish taxpayers do not need another millage dumped on their backs to build a new jail. Our pocketbooks are empty from all of the other tax millages. If a new jail must be proposed by the Police Jury, then a sales tax would be more fair and equitable. At least all residents of the parish would contribute to the cost. Rapides Parish homeowners who pay property taxes should not have to carry the entire tax burden for a new jail -- we are taxed enough already.

Charles Norwood Jr.