Recently members and employees of the Cameron Parish Police Jury and School Board attended the Washington Mardi Gras. How much public money was spent for that? How many people went, and what are their names?

Cameron Parish Administrator Ryan Bourriaque said he and the following people took part in the recent trip to Washington, D.C.: Police Jury President Curtis Fountain; Police Jurors Terry Beard, Davy Doxey, Anthony Hicks and Kirk Quinn; and Parish Secretary/Assistant Administrator Darrell Williams.

He said the trip, which cost $10,573.13, was accounted for in the panel’s budget for 2017.

“Cameron Parish, as well as many other parishes/entities, view this opportunity to visit with state and federal officials as an effective way to address ongoing issues in our parish with the policy and decision makers,” Bourriaque wrote in an email.

He said the parish delegation held official meetings with U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Port Barre, and U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, both Republicans.

“These meetings were centered around the ongoing and planned private investment in Cameron Parish in the LNG export sector, the potential for federal transportation and infrastructure dollars, the need to address concerns with the current and future state of the National Flood Insurance Program, and our continued need for coastal protection and restoration funds,” Bourriaque wrote.

Cameron Parish School Superintendent Charles Adkins said four School Board members — Sheila Miller, Christi LaBove, John Canik and Marsha Trahan — and two teachers attended an event at the Library of Congress at the invitation of Cheniere Energy.

“While in attendance, the board members met with representatives of the Louisiana congressional delegation and industry representatives to share ideas and concerns for issues affecting Cameron Parish as a whole,” Adkins wrote in an email.

“In addition, Cheniere Energy made an $80,000 donation to be shared equally with each of the four schools in Cameron Parish!”

He said the School Board spent no money on the trip; those who took part paid their own way.

Local, La. sales taxes equal 10.75 percent

What are the sales tax rates in Calcasieu Parish?

The combined regular local and state sales tax rate in all municipalities, along with the unincorporated areas and the Moss Bluff-Gillis area, is 10.75 percent.

The combined rate includes a 5 percent state sales tax — 1 percent of which took effect April 1, 2016, and will expire on June 30, 2018.

Food and prescription drugs are exempt from the state sales tax.

In the parish municipalities, food and prescription drugs are subject to a 5.75 percent local sales tax. In the Moss Bluff-Gillis area and the parish’s unincorporated parts, food and drugs are subject to a local sales tax of 4.75 percent.

Revenue from the local sales taxes go to the Calcasieu Parish School Board, the Police Jury, the Sheriff’s Office and municipal governments.

For more information, call the School Board’s sales tax department at 217-4280.

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Online: www.calcasieusalestax.org.

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The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.