Parish school bond OK’d

A $12.5 million bond to pay for St. Landry Parish public school improvements was approved by the State Bond Commission at its meeting Thursday.
About $4 million of the bond money as been approved by the School Board for improvements at Leonville Elementary.
The board has been asked by its bonding attorney to come up with a list of other projects by Oct. 15.
Projects to be funded by the bond issue discussed at board meetings include repairing more than 20 leaking roofs on school buildings and improvements at Palmetto Elementary.
The State Bond Commission approved $308 million for projects statewide and approved more than $17.1 million in savings at the meeting, according to State Treasurer John Kennedy.
“We approved projects across Louisiana,” said Treasurer Kennedy. “Because of these approvals, Breaux Bridge will improve its water system, Baton Rouge will work on its sewer structure and Lafayette will build fire stations. These are vital projects.”
The Project Expo, an event center south of Opelousas, was approved for $500,000, but was in Priority 5, which is not for immediate funding. Money was sought by the Harry Guilbeau Economic Development District for planning, engineering, utilities and construction.
Bill Rodier, executive director of the St. Landry Economic Development, said in an email, “There are a lot of moving pieces on that one. That is not the outcome we were shooting for, but it did not get swept like a lot the requests did so that is a positive. We have a plan we will be working on next week to readdress this in Baton Rouge next month. A little setback, but just part of it. Not a show stopper by any means.”
The district had sought $500,000 in Priority 2 funding.
The bond commission approved several area elections.
Among the individual projects approved were:
Lafayette Parish, $5.5 million in Public Improvement Sales Tax Refunding Bonds for the city of Lafayette: saving taxpayers $1 million.
Lafayette Parish, $27.3 million in Public Improvement Sales Tax Refunding Bonds for the city of Lafayette: saving taxpayers $3 million.
Lafayette Parish, $35 million in Public Improvement Sales Tax Bonds for the city of Lafayette: for (1) purchasing, constructing, acquiring, extending and/or improving public works or capital improvements and (2) funding a reserve fund.
Lafayette Parish, $30 million in Public Improvement Sales Tax Bonds for the city of Lafayette: for (1) opening, constructing, paving, resurfacing and improving streets, sidewalks and bridges, (2) constructing and purchasing street lighting facilities, (3) constructing and improving drains, drainage canals and subsurface drainage, (4) constructing and purchasing fire department stations and equipment, (5) constructing and purchasing police department stations and equipment, (6) constructing and purchasing garbage disposal and health and sanitation equipment and facilities, (7) constructing public buildings, (8) purchasing, constructing and improving public parks and recreational facilities and acquiring the necessary equipment and furnishings, (9) purchasing equipment for civil defense, (10) constructing, acquiring or improving any work of permanent public improvement, (11) purchasing and acquiring all equipment and furnishings for the public works, buildings, improvements and facilities and (12) establishing reserves.
Lafayette Parish, $1 million in Water Revenue Bonds for the city of Scott’s DHH Program: for constructing, acquiring and installing meters and other improvements and extensions to the waterworks system, including appurtenant equipment, accessories and properties.