We refer to our Chamber as the “Voice of Business,” dedicated not only to promoting and supporting business development, but also to representing our business community at local, state and federal levels.
The Joint Public Policy (JPP) Committee is the working group of this operation, whose mission is to collaborate with parish officials to identify projects and policies comprising a legislative agenda to be advanced during regular and special sessions of the state legislature.
The JPP has a unique structure, being comprised of appointed leaders from three organizations, the St. Tammany East and West Chambers, as well as the Northshore Business Council. Several years ago the group hired a legislative advocate, which enabled a stronger voice in the Louisiana legislature and the ability for additional undertakings. We are moving ahead full force on this front, and have just recently hired Dino Paternostro as our new advocate. Dino has made a respected name for himself representing GNO, Inc. and was paramount in the effort to put them on the radar in Baton Rouge. We are thrilled to welcome Dino as part of our team and to help us best serve our organizations’ members.
The JPP has outlined its program of work for the upcoming legislative session, which has been divided into four subcommittees. They are as follows:
1. Education: Effective legislating requires informed citizens. While the JPP is immersed in the details of millages, assessments, consolidation of agencies, etc., the general public does not have a clear picture of how taxing districts act to impact property taxes, and how those taxes are allocated among the various competing taxing districts. This group’s primary goal will be to gather specific, relevant information and then plan and implement public information strategies.
2. Agency Consolidation: The Parish Administration believes there are several taxing districts that could be brought under the umbrella of Parish Government. Examples are the Library Board, Mosquito Abatement Boards, and those with similar quasi-governmental responsibilities. Moreover, the parish now has multiple taxing districts performing the identical functions but with duplicative administrative structures and cost. Fire Districts and Lighting Districts are ready examples. The primary goal of this group will be to collaborate with parish leadership to indentify consolidation opportunities and to develop and implement strategies to affect the desired result.
3. Legislative: Likely, there will be a need to enact or revise legislation to further the objectives of property tax reform and agency consolidation. Tax Commission policies that lead to elevated assessments and statutes relating to Use Value Assessment are two areas that need study and likely will require state legislative action to affect the necessary reforms. This group will conduct the required research and then work with our delegation to craft the necessary legislation. This group will continue to work with likeminded public interest groups to affect broad reforms relating to the authorized authority of taxing districts to raise revenue without voter approval.
4. Local School Board: This group will be charged with building a relationship with the School Board that will allow the JPP to understand their overall financial picture, and will support a candid discussion of their revenue needs as compared to the aggregate property tax levy and the equitable apportionment of those resources.
For more information on the Joint Public Policy Committee or the St. Tammany West Chamber, visit www.sttammanychamber.org and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.