St. Tammany Parish sets 15-member group to overhaul tax districts
The volunteer task force begins work two days before the next public meeting, aiming to consolidate the parish's fragmented taxing entities.
By Robert Marshall ·
St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper convened a new committee on Oct. 28 to evaluate the parish's tax collection and spending methods. The group, named the Reset Task Force, will operate independently of elected officials and submit recommendations to the parish council and the public.
Cooper stated that the current system relies on an aging structure built on many separate taxing districts. He argued that consolidation would serve the parish better. The task force is designed to identify where these consolidations can occur.
The formation of the group coincides with a parishwide campaign for a quarter-cent sales tax increase. That measure will appear on the ballot on Dec. 12. Cooper and other leaders have promoted the need for major changes to how local taxes are collected and used.
The composition of the group changed from the original plan. When the committee was announced earlier this month, Cooper said members would be selected from parish agencies. Instead, the final roster includes a mix of residents, business leaders, and professionals. Cooper noted that removing himself and other elected officials allowed for the addition of business-minded individuals.
Ten of the 15 total members were named at the first meeting. The group includes Tod Klotzbach, a retired insurance executive; Ronald Gitz, executive director of the Society of Louisiana CPAs; and Bert Norton, chief of St. Tammany Fire District 4. Other members are Greg Byers of Fire District 6, Travis Thompson of Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany, attorney Kristen Stanley-Wallace, former educator Ariana LeBlanc, Slidell Rotarian Tim Pillsbury, Russell Richardson of St. Tammany Economic Development, and Jennifer Goings, director of Recreation District 12.
Cooper described the members as bringing diverse backgrounds to the table. The task force members are volunteers. The next scheduled meeting is for Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Parish Council Chambers on Koop Drive in Mandeville.
The group will work to provide specific recommendations on tax structure. No final decisions have been made regarding the scope of potential consolidation or the timeline for implementation.
