The INDsider -> The Independent Staff TUE, MAR 31 5:31AM by IND Monthly Staff

Editorial: Vote yes on bond proposal

The Independent Weekly has carefully studied the bond proposal that goes before Lafayette Parish voters Saturday, and we urge you to vote in favor of the measure. This is not a new tax. Your tax burden as a resident of Lafayette Parish will not be affected by either the passage or failure of this proposal.

If approved, Lafayette Consolidated Government will get the green light to issue $26 million in bonds for the repair of 150 roads and more than 15 bridges in rural Lafayette Parish. These roads and bridges are not only a danger to Lafayette Parish residents, but they also are an impediment to future growth, economic development and overall prosperity in the parish. Many of these roads and bridges have had no maintenance in decades. It is time to realign our civic priorities when it comes to long-neglected infrastructure. Independent staff members have driven many of these roads and traversed these dilapidated bridges. We know first-hand how dire the conditions are. We invite you, the reader, to take a drive along Lebesque Road or Pilette Road to see for yourself why this vote is important. Your auto mechanic will thank you for the new business.

Perhaps the greatest threat to passage of the measure is apathy. City-parish officials worry that with no big-ticket races to draw voters to the polls, the prospect of passing the proposal may be dimmed. We are confident our readers understand the importance of this issue. We urge you to turn out to vote Saturday, and to support the bond proposal.

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Comments (7)

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written by Hugo Chavez , March 31, 2009 - 06:56 pm

I'm voting NO !!! This is my protest vote against the Consolidated Government for increasing my property TAX !! I'm telling my friends to vote NO as well !!

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written by unregistered , March 31, 2009 - 07:36 pm

People who vote no for this have no standing to complain about the state of roads. The reason behind the already-existing tax that supports these bonds is to finance work. If you vote no to finance the work, you might as well start a petition to do away with the underlying tax. If you ever thought - "When are THEY going to patch this pot hole?" or "When are THEY ever going to overlay this road?" - you are THEY. THEY can't do anything for free. THEY haven't invited a magical road fairy yet.

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written by Acadianacuckoo , April 01, 2009 - 01:50 am

Lafayette Consolidated government only gets a small portion of the overall property taxes. And the taxes are voted into place by the citizens. Do some homework.

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written by LFT_4_LIFE , April 01, 2009 - 07:20 pm

Educate yourself on the issue, we have gotten by on low property taxes forever, just look at your nearest school building.

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written by Feed Back , April 02, 2009 - 01:19 pm

Why do we need good roads when we have fiber?

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written by Less Government , April 02, 2009 - 05:29 pm

Although I agree that our schools are in terrible condition as are our roads, the increase in property taxes was NOT voted on. The increase was due to the timely re-assessed inflated value of our property at a time when you can get nowhere near that value due to the housing market. The increase was a choice by LCG and the tax assessor. As for people voting against the bond issue I agree in principle because its time for our government to be more responsible with the money the tax payers entrust them with. The reason our roads and schools are in the condition they are is due to irresponsible spending and mismanagement. LCG's Failure to use money on legitimate projects and too much wasteful spending. I'll change my voting habits when LCG changes it spending habits....

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written by Government is bad, Ppl are good , April 03, 2009 - 03:19 am

As I see it, this is not another tax. This is a vote to allow the government to issue bonds in order to finance the cost to fix our roads. I agree with Less Government that the property taxes were not voted on by, we the people.
Not to mention the issue of a responsible government.
But as my vehicle gets beat up from our roads, I have to give a yes to this, but at the same time we need to keep our elected officials honest. If any of this money goes to the planning of making Johnston street a boulevard, I would be completely against it. But we are dealing with the government...Do not trust them.
In the end, vote for it, but watch closely.

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