Voters scattered about all over St. Tammany Parish will be asked to make decisions about new taxes, tax renewals, bond issues, and a new School Board Member in District Nine on Saturday, October 17. These elections typically have very low voter participation. The League is taking this opportunity to identify which voters will have the opportunity to participate in this election and what is on their ballot. It doesn’t help that some of the voters in certain precincts are in the voting districts and some are not. Get out your Voter Registration Card, call the Registrar of Voters, or use the Secretary of State’s web site to verify if you’re in the district or not.

 School Board Member District Nine

                   Voters living in the Slidell area will be voting for a new School Board Member to complete the unexpired term of Carmen Johnson who resigned the seat earlier this year due to new job responsibilities. Appointed board member Mike Gambrell chose not to seek this seat on a permanent basis. The race is now down to two candidates, Randy Caire and Robin Mullett. The winner of this race will have to compete in the regularly scheduled School Board elections for all fifteen members in October 2010.  All voters in precincts S01, 804, and 815 are in this district. Some of the voters in precincts S02, S05, and 801-803 are also in this district. 

                   The League of Women Voters and the Clearwood Junior High Parent Teacher Student Association are hosting a Candidates’ Forum on Wednesday, October 7 starting at 6:30 p.m. The forum will be held in the Cafeteria at the school located at 130 Brownswitch Road in Slidell. In addition, the candidates’ answers to previously submitted questions and their biographies are available on the League’s web site at www.lwvst.info.

 The Town of Abita Springs Proposition

                   The town leaders of Abita Springs are asking voters in this community to provide for a property tax millage to pay for new public playgrounds and parks and to maintain these and existing public parks and playgrounds. In addition, some of the proceeds will be used to provide street lights on the streets, roads, highways, alleys and public spaces in Abita Springs. Specifically, the proposal is for a 3-mill property tax for a ten-year period. Two-thirds of the proceeds will be applied to the acquisition, construction and maintenance of public parks and playgrounds and the remaining one-third of the proceeds will be used to provide lighting. The expected revenue this millage will generate is approximately $56,000 per year. All voters in precincts A01, A02, A03, and A04 may vote in this election.

 City of Slidell Bond Proposition

                   The City of Slidell is asking voters to approve a bond issue for the purpose of acquiring, constructing and improving drainage, streets and bridges. The debt is not to exceed $10,000,000 (million), in one or more series, for a period of time not greater than twenty years, with an interest rate of nine percent or less and would be paid for with current ad valorem (property taxes). Only voters living within the city limits of Slidell are eligible to vote in this election. The precincts include S01-S25 (includes parts of S02, S05, and S13), and parts of 803, 805, 806, 811, 813, 904, and 915. (NOTE: Every municipal election, there are voters who live in the parish who attempt to vote in these elections. Check those voter registration cards!)

 Drainage District Number Four Tax Renewal

                   Voters will be asked to renew, for a five-year term, the minimum parcel fee of not more than $96.00 per parcel. The tax is assessed on each 10,000 square foot parcel. This renewal will continue to pay for maintenance and operation costs for the levee system, pumping station, pumps, holding ponds, construction of pumping stations, and land acquisition for these purposes. This tax also pays for the operation of the District including costs of the pumping station operation staff, salaries of office staff, utilities and fuels, purchase of equipment necessary for the maintenance or operation of the District, contract services, insurance, and personnel, and other matters. Some of the voters in precinct 814 are in this district.

 Fire Protection District Number Seven Tax Renewal

                   Voters in the Sixth Ward are being asked to approve a ten-year, 5 mill tax renewal to continue funding Fire District #7. The millage is used to acquire, construct, improve, maintain and/or operate fire protection facilities and equipment. It is also used to pay the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes. The tax is projected to generate an estimated $124,500 at this time. Voters in the Sixth Ward include the following precincts: all of precinct 606 and parts of precincts P01, 503, 504, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, and 607.

 Recreation District Number 14 Proposition

                   The board members of Recreation District #14, located in the Madisonville/Covington area, are seeking voter approval for a bond issue for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring, constructing and improving parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, and other recreational facilities, together with the furnishings and equipment. The debt is not to exceed $3,300,000 (million), for a period of time not greater than twenty years, with an interest rate of eight percent or less and would be paid for with current ad valorem (property taxes). All voters in precincts MD1, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, and 107 may vote in this election.

 For more information, please visit the Registrar of Voters and the Secretary of State web sites.

Link to St. Tammany Parish Registrar of Voters: http://www.stprov.org/

Secretary of State Poll Locator web page: https://pollinglocator.sos.louisiana.gov/

 Early voting is scheduled for Saturday, October 3 through Saturday, October 10.