Public works, safety covered in bond issue

• By SCOTT DYER
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Oct 28, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 5:32 p.m.
• Last in a three-day series

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About 60 percent of Mayor-President Kip Holden’s proposed $989 million construction program consists of projects for public works or public safety needs that have been ignored or neglected for decades, supporters say.

In pushing voters to approve two major tax increases to fund his proposal, Holden is quick to point out that East Baton Rouge Parish hasn’t had a major bond issue for almost 50 years, and is dealing now with the neglect of the past.

Holden’s proposal would provide $598 million to address drainage woes, dangerous bridges, an overcrowded Parish Prison, deteriorating and outdated traffic signals and aging fire stations.

To fund projects for those needs plus an additional $391 million in economic development projects, Holden is asking voters on Nov. 4 to levy a half-cent sales tax and a 9.9-mill property tax for 30 years.

City-parish officials say that in some cases, the proposed projects will actually save taxpayers money.

For instance, the city-parish is forced to pay $2.8 million a year to other parishes to house East Baton Rouge inmates in their jails because of overcrowding here, said Walter Monsour, the mayor’s chief administrative officer.

More than 300 local inmates are housed in jails in Catahoula, East Carroll, West Baton Rouge, St. John the Baptist and other Louisiana parishes, he said.

If nothing is done, that figure will increase to more than 600 inmates by 2010 with a projected price tag of $6.6 million per year.

And Monsour said the city-parish also could face repercussions from the state if no action is taken to resolve the overcrowding problem.

The city-parish is operating the jail under a variance from state health officials to allow an additional 168 beds there, Monsour said.

Holden’s proposal would replace the 1,594-bed facility near Metro Airport with a new 2,300-bed jail next to the North Landfill.

Moving the jail to the landfill will allow plenty of room for future expansion, and will free the jail site near the airport for other development, Monsour said.

In addition, the program calls for construction of a new $43.5 million facility to house a juvenile detention center and juvenile courts.