Congratulations to the taxpaying citizens of WBR Parish and Zachary for taking a bold stand and sending

an overwhelming message to your local government and administrators -

You've had it with all these TAX INCREASES!!!

What a record voter turnout - more than 20% in WBR!!!

What an overwhelming NO in Zachary!!! - 65% NO : 35% - Yes

Thanks for joining the T.e.a. (Taxed Enough Already) Party Revolt!!  

The Tea Party of Louisiana(TPoL) was glad to help in your cause!

It's high time that these government officials start spending our tax dollars

more smartly, more efficiently and live within the same budget constraints that

"we the people" have to do every day, week, month and year on our income!

TEA PARTY OF LOUISIANA

OPPOSES Sheriff Mike Cazes’

Additional ½ cent sales TAX in West Baton Rouge

March 11, 2015                                  For Immediate Release 

BATON ROUGE – The Tea Party of Louisiana (TPoL) believes West Baton Rouge CAN NOT afford higher taxes like the additional ½ cent SALES TAX Sheriff Mike Cazes is asking for!

Consider these facts:

• An additional ½ cent sales tax will bring WBR’s tax rate up to 9.5% - higher than ANY adjacent parish.  EBR and Iberville are 9%; Point Coupe, East Feliciana, and West Feliciana are 8%.
• A 9.5% tax rate will kill any chance for WBR to attract “big box” retail.
• The sales tax rate in Brazoria County, Texas is 6.75% and Texas has NO state income tax.  If WBR’s sales tax rate is increased, where do you think the next plant expansion will be built?
• If the sales tax rate is increased, WBR residents will shop elsewhere, and parish revenues will go DOWN, not up. Tax increases ALWAYS cause people to change their behavior – “if you want more of something, subsidize it; if you want less of something, tax it” (Ronald Reagan).
• The WBR Sheriff’s Office is funded by a dedicated 16.1 ad valorem tax.  Over the past 20 years, due to several major plant expansions, the total assessed value of taxable property in WBR has increased from $131.4 million to $399.4 million (source: WBR parish archives), not including several million in “public service” assessments that also generate taxes for the Sheriff’s Office.  This represents a 300+% increase in tax revenues for the Sheriff’s office from 1995 to today.  How can the Sheriff possibly need extra funding?
• Over the past 20 years, the population of WBR has increased by only 1,600 people – roughly 7.5% (NOT 25% as the sheriff is claiming); (source – US Census Bureau).  Yes, there has been growth in places like the Sugar Mill subdivision in Addis, but other areas of WBR have lost population.  And, by the way, the Addis Police Department, NOT the Sheriff’s Office, provides law enforcement protection for Sugar Mill.
• The WBR Sheriff’s Office has ALWAYS operated with a surplus.  This was one of Sheriff Mike’s main arguments in support of his re-election.  Why does he now claim to need more money?  Doesn’t add up.
• Over the past 20 years, total inflation has been 55.3%, but median income has only increased by 3.2% during the same time, and over the past 7 years, median income has actually fallen by 8.4%, meaning, on average, you now have $400 less to spend each month compared to what you had in 2007 (source – US Department of Commerce).  Everything you buy costs more, but you have less money to pay for it.

YOUR FAMILY IS ALREADY GETTING “SQUEEZED”; YOU CANNOT AFFORD HIGHER TAXES. 

On March 28, tell Sheriff Mike:

“We love you, but you have to live within your means, just like we do!”

Vote NO on March 28^th

Please exercise your right to vote on March 28^th

(Early voting is available from March 14 – 21, 8am – 6pm at the Registrar of Voters Office.)