Natchitoches Parish Port Commission encourages voters to approve new property tax

NATCHITOCHES, La. (KSLA) - Voters in Natchitoches Parish will be asked to approve or reject a new property tax during the October 11 election in Louisiana.

If you’re a property owner in the parish, this tax would slightly increase your property tax bill, but the funds would go toward local economic and infrastructure improvements tied to the Natchitoches Parish Port Commission.

“This is an opportunity for the Port and Natchitoches Parish to be competitive, if you will, when it comes down to being able to attract business at the end of the day. And that is the sole purpose for this ask. It is strictly for economic development purposes. It is not tied to any type of salaries or what have you,” explained Tyler Travis, the executive director for the port commission.

The property tax is estimated to generate about $400,000 per year.

“If I didn’t know what type of positive return we could get out of this in the form of jobs and being able to attract the next IP, you know, we would never be making this ask at the end of the day,” said Travis.

“Yes” vote:

• You support levying this 1 mill property tax for 10 years to fund port-related economic development projects.

“No” vote:

• You do not support the tax, and it will not be levied.

Go here to learn more about the Port millage.

Early voting in Louisiana is September 27 through October 4.