Mamou Town Council OK’s having sales tax on ballot

By: NICK JAGNEAUX
Staff Reporter

At its regular monthly meeting last Wednesday, the Mamou Town Council approved a resolution calling for a renewal election on the one percent dedicated sales tax that has been in place since 1991. The item will be on the ballot for the Oct. 24 regular general election.
The sales tax contains provisions that dedicated portions of its revenue to specific activities. The largest dedicated portion, 55 percent, funds capital improvements; ten percent is dedicated to promoting industry and tourism; and the remaining 35 percent goes into the general fund.
The tax is renewable for a period of 25 years. If it is not renewed, it will expire in 2016.
The Council also adopted its millage rates for the 2015 tax year. The rates will stay the same as last year: 7.3 mills on general alimony and 12.45 mills on public facilities, streets, and recreation.
In other business, Town Attorney Peter Savoy updated the Council on its attempt to sell two pieces of adjudicated property. The two pieces of property are located on 812 Third Street and in the 600 block of Second Street. Both of the properties have been in the possession of the Town for a long time following failure to pay taxes on them.
Savoy said that he is consulting with Civic Source, a firm associated with the Louisiana Municipal Association, to learn the correct legal procedures for selling adjudicated property. He said that the process is complicated, but he is confident that he will be ready by August to move forward with the sale.
The Council hired two full-time patrolmen, Joey Arnaud and Ben Bordelon; and a part-time dispatcher/office worker, Vanessa Deshotel. It also approved an ordinance creating a 4-Way Stop at the intersection of Pecan and Ninth streets by adding stop signs on Ninth Street. There are already stop signs on Pecan Street.