Drainage issues on IPC agenda Wednesday

An Iberia Parish ad-hoc committee will begin the first of several meetings today to review Iberia Parish Government’s millages and possibly find ways to make them more efficient. 

The committee initially was scheduled to begin meeting in June 2018. One meeting took place that month, but parish officials decided to postpone the committee until voters decided on a ¾-cent sales tax that would have gone to roads and road maintenance. 

The voters ultimately voted down that proposition. 

“The plan is to go in and look at millages collected and cross-examine our revenues with our expenses,” Iberia Parish Council member Warren Gachassin said at the time. “We can see where we’re over and under on collecting, and maybe see if it’s possible to distribute to some other funds.”

The idea behind the committee is to examine current millage rates and pinpoint areas where “loose mills” could possibly be re-dedicated to fund priority projects like roads, which have no dedicated funding. 

On tonight’s agenda, the committee plans to elect officers, discuss and consider the committee’s meeting schedule and review the existing millages and their dedicated purpose. 

Iberia Parish Government has millages in place for courthouse and jail, building expenditures, jail expenditures, drainage infrastructure, a health unit, library operations, a library debt retirement bond for construction, public buildings and a millage for Iberia Parish Fire District No. 1.

Making up the committee are Iberia Parish Council members Warren Gachassin, Brian Napier, Paul Landry, Michael Landry, Natalie Broussard, Joel Dugas and Marty Trahan. Also on the committee are several non-public officials, including Michael Flash, Pat Caffery, David Larson, Armond Schwing, Charles Smith and Lloyd Verret.

The public is encouraged to attend the meetings and learn about how taxes in Iberia Parish Government work. 

The first meeting is scheduled to be held at 6 p.m. at the Iberia Parish Courthouse.