A single item will be on the ballots for New Iberia residents on May 3, as the city government seeks to renew its millage tax for sidewalks, streets and alleys. 

If approved, the renewal will keep the 3.45 mills tax on the books for another 10 years, when it will once again be up for vote in 2024. 

Mayor Freddie DeCourt said the millage is essential for improving and repairing the curbs, sidewalks and streets throughout New Iberia, and emphasized that the tax would simply maintain and not increase taxes on city residents. 

Early voting for the proposition took place this month. According to Registrar of Voters Kristie Blanchard, early voting turnout saw a total of 447 city residents who showed up in-person or submitted a ballot by mail to vote for the tax proposition. 

The low turnout is certainly correlated with the small ballot, which most parishes across the state are seeing for the election date. 

Of those 447 voters, 324 submitted their vote by mail and the remaining 123 votes came through voters showing up at the Registrar of Voters office in person. 

Voting day takes place Saturday. For information about where to vote, local residents can go to www.geauxvote.com.