Library Tax misses May ballot

No introductions needed.
The Library Coalition suffered a minor setback before the St. Landry Parish Council on Wednesday night. The coalition led by Bruce Gaudin saw a proposed ordinance fail to place a proposed 5.5 mills property tax on the upcoming May ballot due to a technical procedure.
Gaudin– who was on the agenda for “discussion” about the proposed library funding– was not, however, on the agenda to submit legislation to the council. Therefore, according to the St. Landry Parish Assistant District Attorney Lance Pitre, who is appointed to the parish council, any introduction of a proposed ordinance at Wednesday’s special meeting would have gone against the parish government’s home-rule charter.
“That ordinance was brought to us a the last minute, it was a special meeting and I had to do what was right,” said Pitre. “Because the special meeting did not have that ‘introduction of ordinance’ on the call, our charter doesn’t allow it. But I did offer to (the library coalition) that they could present it at the next meeting.”
The next meeting, however, will prove too late for the Library supporters who want quick action. Due to state election guidelines, the ordinance would fall outside of the required time allotted for a public vote and thus would not be on the May 3rd ballot but rather the October ballot.
“We’re disappointed but we’re not going to stop,” said Gaudin. “I think that people deserve a parish wide library system. I think they need it and I think that they’re in favor of it. When we educate the council and educate the people, I think ultimately we’re going to be successful, as every other parish was successful 60 years ago.”