The Central Community School Board met tonight, Monday 8/18, to consider whether to “roll forward” the existing property tax rates dedicated to school funding or to use new, lower tax rates available as a result of the re-assessment of property values by the Parish.  At stake was $323,000 of additional school system funding each year for the next four years, plus state matching funds of over $184,000 for each of those years.  Our School Board voted 5-2 against “rolling forward” the historic tax rates, passing up on the additional $2.02 million in school funding over the next four years, $736,000 of which would have come from the state of Louisiana. 

Now for an attempted explanation of this somewhat confusing issue.  Every four years the Parish re-values all real estate and sends out new assessed values.  Most people in Central got such a letter from the Assessor’s office in the past week.  The assessed value of property in central rose from $81.8 million four years ago to $89.4 million today.  The Central School System is supported in large part by a 43.45 mil property tax on the assessed value of real estate.  When assessments are changed every four years the law mandates that the property tax rate be adjusted to offset the increase in assessed value.  In our case, the old rate of 43.45 mils applied to the new assessed value would have increased total property tax revenue for school funding by $300,000 per year plus state matching funds of over $150,000 per year.  The new tax rate calculated so that school tax revenue would remain unchanged would be 39.79 mils.

The law also provides that the local school board be given the option to vote to keep the old tax rate in place, known as “rolling forward” the tax rate.  A two-thirds vote of the school board is required to pass a “roll forward” of property tax rates.  The motion to “roll forward” the existing tax rate was defeated 5-2.  Voting against the existing higher property tax rate were Morris Anderson, Sharon Browning, Will Easley, Ruby Foil and Jim Gardner.  Voting for the “roll forward” and the additional school funding were Marty Guilbeau and Russell Starns.

A public meeting was held prior to the School Board meeting where citizens were give an opportunity to speak in favor or against the issue, and many did.  There were impassioned pleas to provide as much funding as needed to meet current needs for operating Central schools.  There were equally vocal calls not to increase school funding through property taxes at this time.  The one common theme coming from all speakers was that everyone recognized that we need more funding for our school system.  Those in favor cited the need to do whatever it takes to provide the best education possible for the children of Central and to do it immediately.  Those opposed cited concerns that increasing school system revenues through property taxes now might jeopardize future efforts to fund new school buildings or they maintained that such tax decisions need to be put to a public vote.

One citizen asked what the impact would be on each homeowner if the tax rates were “rolled forward”.  The estimates are that the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $9.15 per year, a $150,000 home $27.45, a $200,000 home $45.75, a $250,000 home $64.00 and a $300,000 home $82.00 per year.

Once the public meeting was closed and the official School Board meeting began, Superintendent Faulk advised that enrollment is up over 600 students this year with a current total of 3,681 students in the system.  He emphasized the need for the “roll forward” and the resulting funding increase so that the Central School System could meet its goal of maintaining a 20 to 1 student/teacher ratio over the next few years of anticipated growth.  After much discussion and additional questions from the public in attendance, the vote was taken, failing 5 to 2.

Whether you prefer to call it protecting the voters’ interests or fear in an election year, the fact of the matter is that the Central School Board voted on August 18 to not roll forward the newly assessed property tax.  Superintendent Faulk has stated that there is basically no reserve money in the School District funding, and that we will be hard pressed to meet the needs of the 3000+ students enrolled in our school district, not to mention the salaries of the wonderful teachers who work for us. So here’s an idea:  let’s show our support for Superintendent Faulk, voted “Man of the Year” by the Central City News for good reason, and his team of dedicated, hard working people by pulling together and funding the money ourselves.  If each household in this community would go to the School Board and write out a $50.00 check, the Central School District, which folks are flocking to from all over, which has some of the highest test scores in the state, which aims to be the pride of Louisiana, can continue on the fantastic course it began on.  Come on, Central Community!  If we can do it for Chalmette, we can do it for ourselves.  Start the petitions and the fund raising and let’s go!

Two Men Arrested on Rape Counts — Press Release August 12, 2008.

One of the men then grabbed the victim by the shoulders and forced her into a bedroom, where they took turns raping her, Hicks said.

Fort, 6817 Lower Zachary Road, and Matthews, 7895 Lower Zachary Road, were each booked into Parish Prison on a count of aggravated rape, booking documents show.

At 6:00 this evening the Central Community School Board will meet at Kristenwood to consider the impact that new property assessments have on the taxes supporting the School System.  With the assessed value of property in this area having gone up, the school board will be faced with a decision as to whether to “Roll Forward” the current taxes.  Doing so would provide additional revenue for the school system since the current tax rates, if applied to the new higher assesed values, would yield a greater total tax revenue for the school system.

There is much discussion around the community over this issue and tonight’s meeting will no doubt be interesting.  While everyone knows the Central School System is in need of additional funding, proposed taxes to build the entire school complex were defeated in the election last month.  It needs to be understood that the additional revenue created by rolling the taxes forward are small compared to the monies at stake in the recent failed tax election.  However, our School Board is faced with the decision of effectively raising taxes on the heels of the recent school complex vote.  It can be argued that the routine rise in revenue for the school system due to rising property values and rising costs of living are unrelated to the issue of new school buildings.  Still, rolling the taxes forward does represent at least a modest tax increase because property in Central has become more desireable and is now worth more.

As with all decisions in our city, you are encouraged to attend public meetings such as these so that the people of Central can remain informed and see the representative process in action.  The results of the meeting will be published in an article late this evening on CentralSpeaks,com.

If you have lost your old yearbook or never bought one, Central High School has discovered yearbooks from the past.

We will be selling these yearbooks (1980-2007) for $20.

You may contact the front office at 261-3438 for more information.

Just want to take a minute and send a BIG thank you to our advertising Central businesses.

Central Florist located off Hooper Rd. Click on their ad to order fresh bouquets online.

Bellissimo Hair Salon located in City Market Shopping Center. Click on their ad for a coupon for your next service.

Smooch my Pooch located in City Market Shopping Center. Click on their ad for a coupon for your pooch!

We appreciate all of your support! If you or anyone you know is interested in advertising on The Central 411, please contact us at info@thecentral411.com

Remember..Shop Central First!!

The City of Central Municipal Service Center will move this weekend from their current location on Sullivan Rd. to their new location at the corner of Greenwell Springs Rd. and Hooper Rd., next to the Post Office. The Service Center number is 262-5000.

For information on the Service Center and what requests are handled, visit http://www.centralgov.com/Depts/PW/index.html

The Wildcat Backers invite you to become a member and help suppport all CHS athletic programs.  The Wildcat Backers, founded in 1972, exist for the sole purpose of supporting “the athletic endeavors of Central High School Students, including Football, Golf, Baseball, Swimming, Track, Basketball, Tennis, Softball, Wrestling, Volleyball, Soccer, Bowling, Power Lifting, Gymnastics and Cheerleading.”

Meetings are generally held on the first Monday of each month in the Central High cafeteria, howeverm, the September 1st meeting has been moved up to August 25th due to Labor Day.  Regular membership is $50, which all goes to support the athletic programs and Century Club membership is $125.  Century Club members also receive two free season passes to all home sporting events except playoffs.  If you are a regularly attending fan the free passes more than pay for the membership.

Membership in the backers also connects you with a devoted core of CHS backers who regularly meet in service activities to support CHS sports.  The Wildcat Backers also sponsor the Fall and Spring Sports Banquets, Meet the Wildcats and Senior Recognition events.  The sign-up form to become a member of the Backers can be downloaded at the link: JOIN THE BACKERS.