Ouachita School Board tax passes easily

Very few voters registered their opinions Saturday, those who did overwhelmingly supported the continuation of a sales tax for Ouachita Parish schools.

The one-cent sales tax, which will now become permanent, was approved 1,296-262 in complete but unofficial returns.

The Ouachita Parish School Board asked west side voters Saturday to approve the extension of the sales tax to allow it to plan for an increasing student population along with technology upgrades, facility needs and security improvements.

"We really do thank the voters of the parish who turned out to support us," board member Tommy Comeaux said. "We've been fortunate in what we've been able to do with our schools and will continue to be able to do in the future."

If voters had not approved the tax, which was passed in 1998, it would have expired in 2024.

Board President Jerry Hicks said last week that the approval of the tax continuation will allow the board to plan for the future and to meet the needs of the district in facilities, technology and security.

According to incoming Superintendent Don Coker, several west-side schools, including Claiborne Elementary and West Ridge Middle School, are near capacity.

Despite additions to many schools in western Ouachita Parish, growth is continuing to demand more additions and possibly new schools.

Voters on the eastern side of the Ouachita Parish School District approved a property tax for similar projects, including the construction of a new middle school, in May 2014.

Voters in four northeastern Louisiana parishes went to the polls Saturday.

In another Ouachita Parish tax election, voters in the East Ouachita Recreation District No. 1 passed a 7.5-mill, 10-year property tax 314-69.

Voters in Madison Parish elected Marvin Ashely to be mayor of Delta. He defeated Thomas Cantin 48-43 in complete but unofficial returns.

In Jackson Parish, a parcel fee for the Hodge Fire Protection District No. 1 passed by one vote, 42-41.

The Hospital Service District No. 1 in Union Parish will benefit from a 5.11-mill property tax that will run 10 years. Voters passed the tax 347-57.

Follow Barbara Leader on Twitter @barbaraleader1.