Vermilion Parish voters get to decide on rededicating tax to build new LSU Ag Center building

The  ballot just got a little larger for the Oct. 24. state and parishwide election in 2015.

The ballot will contain the state election for the governor, lt. governor,  treasurer and other  state offices. Locally, there will be the police jury election,  sheriff,  clerk of court, assessor and coroner elections.

Then there could be state amendments.

Joining the long list of things to vote on will be a re-dedication of $1.3 million from the Health Unit Advalorum Tax. The money would be used to build a new 7,000 square foot Vermilion Parish County Agent Building next to the present one. 

The police jury voted Monday to put the  one-time re-dedication of the  advalorum tax on the ballot.

Agents from the   LSU Ag Center approached the police jury months earlier explaining why a new, larger LSU Ag Center building is needed.

The Ag agents, along with farmers and 4-Hers from  all the schools utilize the ag building. 

Before a vote was taken at Monday’s meeting, some police jurors had questions about the building.

Police Juror Mark Poché wanted someone from the Ag Center to give the police jury a breakdown of what it will cost the police jury to maintain the new building.  The police jury is still waiting for those answers, said Poché.

Poché and Ron Darby voted against putting the re-dedication the ballot.

“With the revenue down due to the low sales taxes and low oil prices, I do not think it is a good time to spend $1.3 million building a government building,” Poché said. 

He said the parish has too many roads and bridges that need to be  repaired.