Copyright Baton Rouge Advocate
Early voting was already dismal for the October millage renewals, with the Nov. 15 tax election, a little over a month later, bringing even less enthusiasm. Roughly around 100 fewer people cast their early ballots for previously failed millages that will fund road and bridge maintenance and public health and safety to the tune of $12.8 million and $10.8 million, respectively. That means only 2.8%, or 4,602 of Lafayette's 161,000 registered voters, cast their votes from Nov. 1 through Nov. 8, according to Louisiana Secretary of State statistics. In March, the tax renewals failed to garner voter support, due to a lack of widespread publicization by Lafayette officials and possibly because of largely unpopular state constitutional amendments on the ballot. The roads and bridges tax was defeated 53% to 47%. The public health and safety failed 52% to 48%. "I don't think it was targeted at our renewals," Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Boulet said at the time. If taxes fail again, they can be added to the ballot again after six months. Last month's renewals brought out roughly 3% of voters. The tax's ultimately passed on Oct. 11. A Lafayette Parish School System tax that generated around $20 million in revenue passed with 68% in favor. Another, which funded the Bayou Vermilion District's cleanup efforts, passed with 70% approval.
