Complaints voiced about city’s tax-notification process

Published 11:26 am Thursday, March 31, 2016

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The first public notices on the potential renewal of two local taxes were introduced during Tuesday’s City Council agenda meeting. One is a 10-year property tax for roads and drainage and maintaining pay increases for city and public safety employees, and the other is a one-cent sales tax for public improvements.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">While the taxes are not new, councilwoman Mary Morris said she would like to see the notification process about the taxes changed to benefit the public. The first notice from the city was published in the</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyBody" style="font-style: italic;">American Press</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">on Wednesday with the legal notices.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Morris said she would like to see the notice placed in other parts of the paper, in hopes of reaching more residents.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“We are talking to the citizens of the city of Lake Charles. We are asking them to renew something and renew the taxes that we operate on,” Morris said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“I think for us we need to do as much as we can to ensure that there’s transparency so people will know we are looking for a renewal of the tax so we can operate the city.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">City officials said notices will also be placed on council agendas until officials meet in May to decide whether to call the election to renew the taxes. “We need to do a better job of making sure the citizens are well aware of it,” Morris said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Councilman Rodney Geyen requested the city place notices in city buildings and recreation centers. “I know they have bulletin boards, and that could be one way to get it out,” he said. “There are many other ways we could do it.”</span><p>(MGNonline)</p>