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Police jury proposes new tax
Published Tuesday, June 24, 2008
VIDALIA — When the voters of Concordia Parish head to the polls in November there will be one new tax to vote on.
At Monday’s meeting of the Concordia Parish Police Jury a motion was passed allowing the Concordia Parish Council on Aging to place a 4-mill tax on the upcoming roster to be voted on.
Jury President Melvin Ferrington said the jury would assist the council in any way possible.
President of Board of the Concordia Council on Aging Guylyn Boles said the new millage, if passed, would amount to roughly $400,000 per year.
Boles said budgetary cuts and the rising cost of fuel have forced the council to eliminate some services they previously offered.
“This could help us a lot,” she said of the millage. “We have had to make too many cuts.”
Boles said the millage would help to increase the number of meals the council could deliver and increase the amount of people included in its transportation program.
Of three vans the group normally uses to transport of the elderly, the council can only afford to use two Boles said.
The Council on Aging is currently serving 3,500 residents of Concordia Parish.
In other news, the jury passed a motion to make an emergency declaration for the Old Courthouse building.
Ferrington said the air conditioning unit that cools the building stopped working.
While the unit has been temporarily repaired Ferrington said it is “in real poor condition.”
The passage of the emergency declaration will allow the jury to eliminate the bidding process and have the unit replaced more quickly Ferrington said.
The parish has not purchased a new unit, yet Ferrington estimated the cost for a new unit to be $70,000 or $80,000.
The jury also agreed to aid the City of Vidalia in an effort to maintain the Vidalia Canal.
Vidalia’s Mayor Hyram Copeland and Street and Sanitation Superintendent Lee Staggs asked the jury for assistance in the matter.
Staggs said a section of the ditch has become so overrun with small trees and brush that water can no longer flow through the ditch.
“It’s a serious problem,” he said.
Jury member Whest Shirley said the section of ditch Staggs described is behind Vidalia Lower Elementary School.
The jury passed a motion to have L-64, their contract company, cut and clear that section of ditch.
The jury also approved a request from Concordia Parish Sheriff Randy Maxwell to purchase new equipment for the county jail.
The jury approved the purchase of 44 orange jumpsuits, 48 sheets and 48 blankets at a cost of just over $1,300.
Comments
Posted by Username (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 12:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I VOTE NO!
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 12:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree!
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Somebody once told me Bob Barker supplied jumpsuits and covers for jails. What a crock! Am I the only person that's heard this?
Of course I'll vote "yes" in November! Who took care of us when we were small? I will always want to help our senior citizens who need to be more respected and less forgotten.
Posted by Blasterhappy (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I vote "YES"!!! I'm glad to see someone taking notice of what is needed versus what is wanted.
Posted by itsawounderfullife (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with kpage, R E S P E C T our elders.
Posted by jnarts (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A big yes on that vote,we should always put our elders and less fortunate first.
Posted by lroberts1 (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I vote yes,,The elders & less fortunate sure do need all the help they can get. VOTE YES
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I live in Natchez I think I'll vote yes also.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's another Property Tax!
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 4:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks to all you who are considerate to the old folks, cause I is one. lol. But it makes me happy to see all the good postive thoughts written about us old folks.
Posted by peachpit (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'll vote Yes. Just hope it goes for what it is intended for.
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"I live in Natchez I think I'll vote yes also."
LOL Good one bmus.
Posted by Roy (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 9:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For you people who vote "no". Don't complain when there are potholes that need filled, drainage problem or grass on the side of the road that need to be cut.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 25, 2008 at 1:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It would be prudent to ask a few questions, since it appears from this article that it requires 400,000 dollars a year to operate one van to bring food to and to transport the 3500 elderly being served.
How much of the funding received by the Council gets into the hands of the aged? How many employees does the Council have, and what are they paid? Who are the directors and members of the Council? Where can the balance sheet of the Council be viewed by the voters? What exactly are the services provided, and how often and to exactly how many?
Everyone wants to help the aged, that goes without saying. But isn't it about time voters started asking some questions about what they are being asked to vote on, and getting some real answers, verified by financial statements?
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