2-12-16
LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX HAS PUT HIS STAFF ON NOTICE ABOUT POSSIBLE CUTS BECAUSE OF LAGGING SALES TAX COLLECTIONS. IN A STATEMENT RELEASED YESTERDAY, ROBIDEAUX SAYS HE ASKED HIS CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, LOWELL DUHON, TO WORK WITH STAFF AND DEPARTMENT HEADS TO DEVELOP CONTINGENCIES TO RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGE. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER LORRIE TOUPS SAYS SALES TAX COLLECTIONS ARE DOWN ABOUT FIVE PERCENT FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR. THE CITY PARISH COUNCIL APPROVED A BUDGET THAT ASSUMED SALES TAX COLLECTIONS WOULD STAY THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE COLLECTED 538 THOUSAND DOLLARS LESS THAN ANTICIPATED IN THE BUDGET FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS.
Two women are accused of stealing more than $150,000 from their employer.
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office says 53-year-old Susan Mire and 43-year-old Donya Louviere, both of Sulphur, have admitted to the theft of at least $153,371. They surrendered to authorities earlier this month. Both women are free on $25,000 bond.
A ONE CAR ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED IN ST. MARTIN PARISH NEAR HENDERSON AT ABOUT 12:30 A-M. JEFF HORCHEK HAS MORE.
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In a rare, statewide televised speech, Gov. John Bel Edwards tried to persuade Louisianians that he and lawmakers need to raise their taxes to help pay for continuing government services. The Democratic governor, in office since January, says without more money for state coffers, Louisiana will face “unimaginable cuts to vital state services.” Edwards acknowledged Thursday that he didn’t run on a platform of raising taxes, but he said the budget gaps he inherited from former Gov. Bobby Jindal are so deep that Louisiana needs new dollars to pay for services. He’s asking lawmakers, who convene in a special session Sunday, to agree to boost taxes on most people and businesses.
Payments to Louisiana’s colleges from the TOPS free college tuition program have been put on hold, because of uncertainties about the state’s budget. The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance notified campuses Thursday that it was temporarily suspending TOPS payments. TOPS provides free tuition to students who meet certain academic benchmarks. Campuses submit tuition bills to the student financial assistance office for reimbursement.
SO FAR THIS SCHOOL YEAR, 77 LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL TEACHERS HAVE EITHER RETIRED OR RESIGNED, AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR BRUCE LEININGER IS PROJECTING A TOTAL OF 155 TO 160 DEPARTURES BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THAT’S WELL DOWN FROM A HIGH OF 351 TEACHER DEPARTURES IN THE 2012-13 SCHOOL YEAR. THE PRESIDENT OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS, RODOLFO ESPINOZA, CREDITS SUPERINTENDENT DONALD AGUILLARD WITH IMPROVING MORALE AMONG TEACHERS, AND HELPING THEM DEAL WITH ISSUES SUCH AS THE COMMON CORE AND THE STATE’S EVALUATION SYSTEM. BUT ESPINOZA TELL THE DAILY ADVERTISER THAT LAFAYETTE PARISH IS STILL LOSING TOO MANY TEACHERS, WHO, HE SAYS, ARE DEALING WITH HIGH STRESS LEVELS.
CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN IN DECEMBER ON A NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX AT THE SITE OF THE OLD SEARS PROPERTY IN DOWNTOWN LAKE CHARLES. ROGER LANDRY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN 2013 WITH PLANS FOR A MIXED DEVELOPMENT OF RETAIL AND HOUSING, BUT HE SAYS THAT CHANGED TO JUST HOUSING BECAUSE THEY FOUND THE RETAIL ASPECT NOT FEASIBLE. HE SAYS IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE THE COMPLEX, WHICH WILL HAVE 268 UNITS AND A PARKING DECK FOR UP TO 381 CARS. COUNCILMAN MARK ECKARD SAYS THE COMPLEX WILL HELP ENLIVEN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, ENABLING BUSINESSES THERE TO THRIVE DURING THE DAY AND AT NIGHT.
AN ABBEVILLE MAN WAS JAILED AFTER HE TRIED TO STAB POLICE OFFICERS. THE OFFICERS WERE CALLED OUT TO THE CVS PHARMACY ON VETERAN’S MEMORIAL BECAUSE THE MAN, CLARENCE MITCHELL, WAS STEALING ITEMS AND DISTURBING CUSTOMERS. MITCHELL IS ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTING TO STAB THE OFFICERS WITH SCISSORS. NEITHER OFFICER WAS HARMED.
