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Click on any or all of the questions below to learn more about the EBR bond election.
Q: What is the East Baton Rouge Parish (EBR) bond election? A: The bond election (aka bond proposal, capital improvements plan, and/or parishwide proposition) is a parishwide proposition, presented by EBR Mayor-President Melvin “Kip” Holden, designed to make large-scale improvements in public safety, property protection, traffic signal synchronization, and drainage, as well as significant investments in economic development, including the creation of hundreds of permanent jobs. The $901 million plan’s bond financing will consist of a thirty-year, 9.9 millage property tax and a half-cent sales tax increase. If approved by the voters, the parishwide proposition will lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in private, state, and federal investments in the Capital Region. The economic impact of certain aspects of the plan that are forecasted to result in additional revenue for the city-parish would allow for the bond debt to be retired prior to the thirty-year term, thereby removing the incremental property and sales taxes. The bond election will appear before the residents of EBR on a November 14 ballot. Early voting is October 31 - November 7, 2009. Q: Why should I vote for the bond election? A: The bond election is predicted to generate hundreds of permanent jobs and have an economic impact unlike any other project seen before. It is designed to make large-scale improvements in public safety, property protection, traffic signal synchronization, and drainage, as well as significant investments in economic development, including the creation of hundreds of permanent jobs, which will have a positive impact on the entire business community. Additionally, there are certain aspects of the plan that are forecasted to result in additional revenue for the city-parish and would allow for the bond debt to be retired prior to the thirty-year term, thereby removing the incremental property and sales taxes. Q: Why is the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) endorsing the bond election? A: BRAC’s mission is to lead economic development in the Baton Rouge area. The bond election is predicted to generate hundreds of permanent jobs and have an economic impact unlike any other project seen before. BRAC also works diligently to improve the product that is the Capital Region. The $600MM in infrastructure projects alone, that will happen as a result of the bond election, will go a long way to improving the product. In summary, BRAC endorses the bond election for the following three main reasons:
Q: Isn’t ALIVE simply an amusement park? A: No, ALIVE is a scientific and educational park that is also an essential financial component to making the bond election cost-efficient. The economic impact of developing ALIVE alone will drive permanent job creation and greatly shorten the timeframe taxpayers will bear the burden of paying for the highly-demanded infrastructure components. Yes, it will have components that are fun and entertaining, but it is an educational center as well as a much-needed revenue source to subsidize the cost of the infrastructure components that the vast majority of all EBR voters say they want. Voting for the bond election will ensure the infrastructure improvements happen and our (the taxpayers) tax burden is alleviated as much as possible. Q: If I don’t go downtown, why should I support downtown development? A: First, passing the bond election will create hundreds of new permanent jobs. These will be jobs that will have a positive impact on the entire business community. Second, it will provide for infrastructure projects that are long overdue, including the synchronization of the parish’s light system, which will save the average commuter almost $9 per month in gas. Finally, it is key for our long-term economic viability. In order to reach our full potential, we need to take bold steps such as passing the bond election on November 14. back to topQ: I support the infrastructure portion of the bond election, but do not see the value in the economic development portion. Why weren’t the two components split? A: Combining the infrastructure and economic development components was necessary to making the bond election as cost-efficient as possible. The economic development piece will create hundreds of permanent jobs and greatly shorten the timeframe taxpayers will bear the burden of paying for the highly-demanded infrastructure components. Voting for the bond election will ensure the infrastructure improvements happen and our (the taxpayers) tax burden is alleviated as much as possible. Q: When is the bond election vote? A: The residents of EBR will vote on the bond election on Saturday, November 14, 2009. Early voting is October 31 - November 7, 2009. Q: I have a question about the bond election. Who should I contact to get an answer? A: Please email your question to bond@brac.org and include your contact information. You will receive a response as quickly as possible. |
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