EPSB approves motion for bonds of indebtedness

During its meeting Wednesday night, the Evangeline Parish School Board gave its preliminary approval for $2.5 million in certificates of indebtedness for the parish’s local area network project (online infrastructure upgrades).
Chief Financial Officer Amy Lafleur informed the board that going with certificates of indebtedness allowed the parish to keep its seven-year payment arrangement at an even lower rate (approximately six percent less). They will also have the ability to deal with their local bank, Whitney Bank.
This approval is preliminary and will have to also be approved by the state bond commission.
The board also learned that its total excess in sales tax collections trailed behind last year’s excess distribution. Last year, the parish received over $2.8 million in excess tax collections; money which was then distributed to employees in the form of “end of year” bonuses. This year, the parish received $711,264.54 less in excess collections with only $2.1 million to be distributed. How much that will amount to per employee was not revealed at the meeting.
Discussing recent changes made at the state level, the board is waiting to hear what will happen to a bill passed by the state which will prohibit children from crossing the street to board or exit from buses. This law, which Transportation Supervisor Ted Soileau said was originally meant for the more urban areas of the state with four-lane highways, will have a huge impact here. If this law stands, Soileau said the bus routes will all need to be redone, not to mention the extra cost in fuel with buses having to pass twice on each roadway to pick up children who live on each side. This will not only result in massive increases in fuel costs, but will have buses passing at homes even earlier than they currently are since they will be basically covering twice their current route.
“This was a poorly written, poorly considered piece of legislation,” Soileau stated, even adding that the legislator who originally proposed the bill has said that he now regrets doing so.
The law has been appealed to the state attorney general for an opinion, but Soileau said Laidlaw, who handles student transportation for the parish, has already begun working on proposed routes in the event that the law does stand. If it does, it will mean a tremendous cost increase to the parish.