* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] ON [2025 MILLAGES ] MAY 3RD, 2025, VOTERS IN JEFFERSON PARISH WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO RENEW THREE PROPERTY TAX MILLAGES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS. THESE MILLAGES HELP FUND THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH DRAINAGE SYSTEM, PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES AND LIBRARIES. THE MILLAGES ARE NOT NEW TAXES, BUT RENEWALS AT PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED RATES APPROVED BY JEFFERSON PARISH VOTERS IF APPROVED. AGAIN, THE DRAINAGE AND RECREATION MILLAGES WILL CONTINUE TO BE COLLECTED FOR ANOTHER PERIOD OF 10 YEARS, STARTING IN 2027, AND THE LIBRARY MILLAGE WILL BE COLLECTED FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS, STARTING IN 2028. THE FIRST PROPOSITION IS A RENEWAL NOT TO EXCEED SIX MILLS THAT WILL HELP FUND THE CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH CONSOLIDATED DRAINAGE DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES THE ENTIRE EAST AND WEST BANK OF JEFFERSON PARISH, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GRAND ISLE JEFFERSON PARISH VOTERS IN THE CONSOLIDATED DRAINAGE DISTRICT NUMBER TWO WILL VOTE ON THE DRAINAGE MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSITION. THIS WILL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $27 MILLION PER YEAR, PROVIDING OVER 45% OF THE ENTIRE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING, CONSTRUCTING, IMPROVING, MAINTAINING, AND OPERATING THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON PARISH. THE SYSTEM INCLUDES 340 MILES OF DRAINAGE CANALS, DRAINAGE DITCHES, CROSS DRAINS, AND CULVERTS, 1,465 MILES OF STREET SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, AND THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF 72 DRAINAGE PUMP STATIONS. RENEWAL OF THE MILLAGE WOULD PRESERVE A CRITICAL FUNDING SOURCE FOR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND PROVIDE REVENUE TO HELP FUND CAPITAL NEEDS. THE PARISH HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN. THE DRAINAGE PUMP STATION AND CANAL SYSTEM IS THE BACKBONE, KEEPING OUR HOMES AND BUSINESSES FROM FLOODING. THE CURRENT MILLAGE REPRESENTS CLOSE TO HALF THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AND IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR CURRENT SYSTEM, ALONG WITH THE FUTURE FLOOD MITIGATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THE SECOND PROPOSITION IS A RENEWAL NOT TO EXCEED 10 MILLS THAT WILL HELP FUND THE JEFFERSON PARISH RECREATION COMMUNITY CENTERS AND PLAYGROUNDS THROUGHOUT UNINCORPORATED JEFFERSON PARISH PLUS THE TOWN OF JUNE. LAFITTE. JEFFERSON PARISH VOTERS IN THE CONSOLIDATED JEFFERSON RECREATION AND COMMUNITY CENTER AND PLAYGROUND DISTRICT WILL VOTE ON THE RECREATION MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSITION, WHICH WILL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $35 MILLION PER YEAR, PROVIDING 93% OF THE J'S OPERATING BUDGET TO HELP FUND THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON PARISH. THE JEFFERSON PARISH RECREATION DEPARTMENT, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS JPRD OFFERS A VARIETY OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES. THIS INCLUDES BOTH ATHLETIC AND LEISURE PROGRAMS FOR KIDS, WOO ACTIVITIES AND CLUBS FOR SENIORS, ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, CAMPS, AND A WIDE RANGE OF CLASSES AND SPECIAL EVENTS AT DOZENS OF PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS LOCATED THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON PARISH. LOSS OF THE RECREATION MILLAGE WOULD FORCE WIDESPREAD CLOSURES OF PLAYGROUNDS, PARKS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND OTHER RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, AND BRING ATHLETICS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO A HALT. THESE MILLAGES ARE VITAL TO KEEP OUR OPERATIONS OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH RECREATION DEPARTMENT UP AND RUNNING TO HELP SERVICE OUR YOUTH, SENIORS, AND SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY. THE THIRD PROPOSITION IS A RENEWAL NOT TO EXCEED 6.5 MILLS THAT WILL PROVIDE ALMOST ALL OPERATING AND CAPITAL FUNDING FOR THE JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT UNINCORPORATED JEFFERSON PARISH AND THE VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES, INCLUDING GRETNA, HARAHAN, KENNER, WESTWEGO, JEAN LAFITE, AND GRAND ISLE. ALL JEFFERSON PARISH VOTERS WILL VOTE ON THE LIBRARY MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSITION, WHICH WILL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $29 MILLION PER YEAR, PROVIDING 95% OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM'S OPERATING BUDGET NOW IN ITS 75TH YEAR OF SERVICE. THE JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY SYSTEM OPERATES 16 BRANCHES THROUGHOUT THE PARISH WITH PLANS TO OPEN A NEW LIBRARY IN AVONDALE IN APRIL, 2025. ALL JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARIES OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY WITH TWO LARGE REGIONAL LIBRARIES AND SEVEN BRANCHES ON EACH SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE SYSTEM PROVIDES TRADITIONAL SERVICES RANGING FROM BOOK LENDING, INTERNET ACCESS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO MORE INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE LIBRARY OF THINGS COLLECTION, WHICH ALLOWS CARDHOLDERS TO CHECK OUT OBJECTS RANGING FROM MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO COOKWARE EXPERIENCE PASSES THAT GRANTS CARDHOLDERS ACCESS TO REGIONAL MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, AND THE UPCOMING MAKERSPACE, WHICH WILL ALLOW PATRONS TO USE CRAFTING TOOLS FOR HOBBIES LIKE QUILTING AND PODCASTING, AS WELL AS 24 7 SERVICES SUCH AS EBOOK, AUDIO, VIDEO, STREAMING, AND WIFI. LOSS OF THE LIBRARY MILLAGE WOULD HALT NEW CAPITAL PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMING TRIGGERING SEVERE CUTS TO SERVICE. THE JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY SUPPORTS ALL OF OUR JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENTS. OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR SERVICES HELP EVERYONE SUCCEED. A LOSS OF FUNDING WOULD IMPACT EVERY RESIDENT OF JEFFERS PARISH. SO HOW WOULD THESE RENEWALS IMPACT YOU? IF YOU OWN A HOME VALUED AT $200,000 AND [00:05:01] YOU HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ON YOUR RESIDENCE, YOU WOULD PAY $75 A YEAR, WHICH EQUATES TO $6 AND 25 CENTS PER MONTH FOR THE DRAINAGE MILLAGE, $125 A YEAR, WHICH EQUATES TO $10 AND 42 CENTS PER MONTH FOR THE RECREATION MILLAGE AND $81 AND 25 CENTS A YEAR, WHICH EQUATES TO $6 AND 77 CENTS PER MONTH FOR THE LIBRARY MILLAGE. SO PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE ON SATURDAY MAY 3RD. EARLY VOTING IS FROM APRIL 19TH THROUGH APRIL 26TH. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW JEFF PARISH.GOV. MILAGE. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.