"We must provide the tools and environment for our children to successfully compete in a world economy."
The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce is endorsing the renewal of a pair of existing parish-wide property taxes on the Nov. 6 ballot - a 1.71 mills renewal that provides for ongoing maintenance and operating expenses at the Lafayette Regional Airport and at 16.7 mills, 10-year tax that funds general operations of the Lafayette Parish School System. The latter tax is expected to generate about $27 million annually beginning in 2015.
"We must provide the tools and environment for our children to successfully compete in a world economy. We are building our workforce," chamber President Rob Guidry says in a press release announcing the organization's support.
Chamber Chairman Jerry Greig touts the service provided to the community via its regional airport in proposing voters support the tax renewal: "Many communities the size of Lafayette wish they had the airline service that we have here in Lafayette," Greig notes. "While airlines are reducing service across the country, Lafayette's air service remains solid in terms of convenient schedules and competitive fares."
The chamber, however, is not weighing in on four other renewals of 10-year property taxes: 3.34 mills parish-wide for operations and improvements to drainage; 2 mills parish-wide for the public library system; and 2 mills and 3 mills, respectively, in the city of Lafayette for fire and police salaries and benefits.