Voters in south Webster Parish said yes to a 2.65-mill tax renewal for 10 years for Road District A while voters in the north end said no to 3.92-mill tax renewal for Road District B.
The funds generated from the tax are dedicated for roads and bridges and drainage throughout the parish.
“We use this money to help supplement the money we get from the state through our transportation fund, which has been declining,” police jury president Jim Bonsall said. “This money is strictly used for maintaining our roads in the parish.”
The Road District A tax is expected to generate $437,250 a year while an estimated $454,720 a year would have been generated for Road District B and can not be spent outside the district.
Road District A goes up north of Dixie Inn, south of Cotton Valley, includes Minden, Dixie Inn, Sibley, Dubberly and Heflin. Road District B includes areas north of the Couchwood area and includes Springhill, Cullen, Cotton Valley, Sarepta and Shongaloo.
“We can’t maintain the whole parish with these funds,” Bonsall said. “Without it, it will be very hard to keep providing the services that we have been.”
Bonsall said the jury plans to bring the Road District B tax renewal back before voters next year.