By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Services
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux was upbeat Sunday afternoon, and why not? All three bond propositions proposed by the City, totaling $256 million, overwhelmingly passed Saturday.
“I’m elated, and greatly appreciative of the support the people have given the City of Shreveport,” Mayor Arceneaux told the Shreveport-Bossier Journal. To me, it shows what we are capable of doing when we all work together.”
Eighty percent of voters supported Proposition #1, which earmarked $125.1 million for streets infrastructure projects. Eighty percent of voters also supported Proposition #2, which called for $82 million to be spent on water and sewer projects. Seventy-Eight percent of voters agreed to allocate $49.3 million for police, fire, and SPAR projects.
“I think it will have a significant impact because we had gotten so far behind,” Mayor Arceneaux said. “I think the other impact is the level of cooperation and the spirit of togetherness of the council members who were supportive. That really helped propel us forward. I think (the bond passage) is not only going to be physically significant, but emotionally significant.”
Voter turnout was 13%, with an average of 16,252 votes cast.
“It’s not unusual for a bond election,” Mayor Arceneaux said of the low numbers. “Bond elections are pretty complicated matters. You want to make sure you’re having the full attention of the public focused on it, and probably the people who were most focused were the people who went to vote. It’s a little higher than I (expected). I thought it would be about 10 percent, so it was higher than I thought, but it is what it is.”
The City said it will start receiving money for the bond projects in October, and while some work could start late this year, there will be a significant increase in work in 2025.
Passing of all three propositions, the City said, will result in an increase to taxpayers of approximately $100 per a $100,000 home by the end of five years. The increases, on a small scale, will start in 2025, with the full impact not likely to be felt before 2028 or 2029.
Contact Tony at SBJTonyT@gmail.com.
