On April 29 there will be a parish-wide election for a proposition of 6.19 mills on all parish property subject to taxation for 8 years beginning in 2036 and ending in 2043. This will amount to an estimated $729,200 to be collected from the tax levy for an entire year. The passing of the millage or ‘mil’ will be used for the purpose of constructing, maintaining and operating public libraries in Claiborne Parish.
This millage will represent a 0.09 increase, due to reappraisal, over the 6.10 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2035. This millage passed in the 2011 election.
Claiborne Parish Police Jury (CPPJ) Secretary-Treasurer Dwayne Woodard said, “This renewal will not increase your taxes over the present amount your are paying for the support of the parish library system – 6.19 mills in 2022.”
According to Woodard the CPPJ is seeking an extension of the term of the existing tax to present before the State Bonding Commission for financing to go towards the construction of a new Haynesville Branch in the same way as when they constructed the new Homer library branch.
“Our two parish libraries and its staff are some of the best in the state and finest in our region and operate on one of the lowest library tax millages in all of North Louisiana,” said Woodard. “The police jury and Library Board of Control would love to have a branch in Lisbon, Athens and Summerfield in addition to both Homer and Haynesville, however, economics prevents that.”
There has recently been some confusion on what the millage will be used for.
The Athens Town Hall made a Facebook post on Monday, April 17, alleging that this proposition is to set up a retirement plan for the librarians in Homer and Haynesville.
Woodward clarified that this tax renewal will not be used for that purpose.
He said, “These employees are already in the same retirement program as any other Claiborne Parish Police Jury employee and have been since the Parochial Employees Retirement System was formed.”
The CPPJ and Claiborne Parish Libraries System humbly ask for the parish resident’s support in renewing this existing tax.
Early voting will run Friday, April 15, through Saturday, April 22, with exception to Sunday, April 16. Residents can turn up at the poles to cast their votes between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the Claiborne Parish Police Jury Office Complex located at 507 West Main Street in Homer.
If you are on the mail out program, all absentee ballots must be at the Registrar Voters Office by 4:30 p.m. on April 28th. The last day to request a mail ballot for qualified voters is April 25th.
On Election Day, April 29, residents can vote at the designated polling place between 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
If you have any questions or concerns please call the CPPJ at 318-927-2222 or the Claiborne Parish Library at 318-927-3845.