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LFT Mayor-President Elect Josh Guillory Against Proposed New Taxing Districts

Dec 16, 2019 02:52PM ● By Flint Zerangue, Sr.
Lafayette Mayor-President Elect Josh Guillory released a statement on Monday in response to the proposed new taxing districts being considered by the outgoing Lafayette City-Parish Council.

"I am opposed to passage of the proposed new taxing districts being considered during the last meeting of the Lafayette City-Parish Council. I believe these matters are important enough that they should be held over until the new City and Parish Councils can give them thorough consideration and receive greater public input. This isn’t something we should rush through at the last minute without proper study and analysis. I believe the new Councils, freshly elected by our people, will be well equipped to give these proposals careful and thoughtful consideration," stated Guillory.

Guillory is concerned that the proposed new taxing districts send the wrong message to residents of the parish and the people who shop, stay and do business.

"While I understand the theory behind these districts, I want our City and Parish to be known as business-friendly, low tax jurisdictions that are more inviting to visitors who want to stay here and shop here. These taxing districts do the opposite," says Guillory. "These districts are specifically designed to be passed without a vote of our people, and I think that’s not a precedent we want to encourage. In our system of government, proposed tax increases are typically placed in front of voters for approval or disapproval. That’s the way it should be. Trying to circumvent that legal requirement by crafting districts that don’t contain any registered voters is not something I believe we should be doing."

My Guillory stated that he looks forward to working with all of our local stakeholders to find innovative, business and taxpayer-friendly ways to grow and expand our local economy after our newly elected team takes office in January.

 



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