Lafayette Parish residents will have the chance to vote in a special tax election on April 18.
The Lafayette Parish Council on Tuesday announced a tax election for the continuation of a parish library tax.
The 3.12 mill tax is expected to generate $8.9 million annually and will be collected over 10 years, starting in 2027. It represents a 7% increase due to property value reappraisal.
The tax is one of two millages that fund the library’s operations. Combined, the millages generate about $12.2 million annually.
In 2018, voters refused to renew a third property tax for public libraries, costing the system $3.5 million annually.
This special tax election is one of several that Lafayette voters will face over the next six months.
On Saturday, voters will decide on two renewals: A Lafayette Parish School system tax that collects about $20 million a year for the school district, and a Bayou Vermilion District millage that generates more than $ 2 million.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, when voters will need to report to their specific precincts. To learn more about the Bayou Vermilion District millage, visit bayouvermiliondistrict.org. To learn more about the LPSS millage, visit www.lpssonline.com.
A 4.47-mill property tax that was expected to produce about $12.7 million a year for Lafayette Parish government to build, improve and maintain roads and bridges was rejected.
A 3.81-mill property tax was expected to generate about $10.8 million a year for parish drainage, fire protection in unincorporated areas, roads and bridges, public health units, mosquito control, animal control and the coroner’s office also was defeated.
Both taxes are currently being collected. The 4.47-mill tax expires at the end of 2026. The 3.81-mill tax was previously authorized to be collected through 2025.
If the November millages fail again, the parish has one more chance to bring them back to voters.
Early voting for the Nov. 15 election is from Nov. 1-8, excluding Sunday, Nov. 2. All three early voting sites in Lafayette Parish will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.