Issue Position: Infrastructure

Issue Position

The most critical infrastructure matters facing District 37 include our failing Jimmie Davis Bridge, aging and substandard underground water and sewer lines, a rising water table due to the rising level of the Red River, and poor quality roads, highways, and interstates with no funding for maintenance.
The core of District 37 is losing its tax base as residents and businesses move north and south of Shreveport/Bossier's central business districts. This directly affects revenue necessary to maintain infrastructure in the district.
In addition, the Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP) is draining vital property tax revenue from our district. Caddo Parish loses $33,142,842 annually in property tax revenue, and Bossier Parish loses $1,914,537 annually of these corporate tax exemptions which are granted by the Louisiana State Legislature.
I will work with local taxing authorities to educate them about incrementally rescinding ITEP tax exemptions, and I will work with existing groups, like Allendale Strong, Re:Form Shreveport, and downtown development organizations to repopulate our district's core and generate the tax revenue necessary to maintain our failing infrastructure. I will also work with the city and parish government officials to educate them about implementation of annexation fees for new developments, and about proven methods of regenerating the population in the core of District 37. I will work to create a small/locally-owned business friendly climate in District 37 to generate a fresh tax base, while requiring large corporations to pay their fair share of taxes to maintain our infrastructure.
If another revenue windfall, like the BP settlement, becomes available, I will not allocate that funding to new construction, but I will vote to use it to repair and replace failing infrastructure or build business boulevards to facilitate new business and residential development within the district.

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