By Patricia Morris
As we review the map provided by the Tangipahoa Parish Registrar of Voters, we wonder how the lines outlined in "RED" were drawn showing who would vote in the upcoming March 27th tax election for the school board. Never is there a truer picture of something I was told more than two years ago, as I attempted to get the school district lines and the taxing district lines map, which should be the same and is not. I was told when asking for a map outlining the taxing districts and school districts, there was no such map, because when money was needed, "they" would bring in a map to the Assessor's Office, and would use their finger to draw a line and designate an area to be taxed and how much money "they" wanted. This information was prepared and sent to the Registrar of Voters Office to have it completed to decide what areas would vote for any monies needed at the time.
As you traverse this map, please note those persons who live in the Woodbridge Subdivision in the City Limits of Hammond, yet cannot vote for this tax, and prior to this discovery a few weeks ago could not vote for the Magnet Tax, nor the Crystal Street Tax, but must pay both. As of early voting, they yet cannot vote for either tax, and we are being advised they now will not have to pay it, whereas in the past they did. The proverbial question now is why, and when was this situation partially corrected?
I am more than certain there are other areas of overlapping the taxing and school district lines, and it needs to be fixed, and has probably been the case for more than 50 years, or closer to 60 years. Should this school system entertain repaying people who paid taxes they should not have paid? We think the school system should do so, and do so willingly and voluntarily. If not, there is another answer, as we are exploring other options to have this done.
It is our understanding when this Woodbridge Subdivision was incorporated into the City Limits of Hammond in we believe 1987, the school board dropped the ball yet again in not doing what it should have done in creating a voting/taxing district for the citizens of the Woodbridge Subdivision.
In our opinion, this school system should pull this tax, straighten out its mess(es) and start afresh. Will this happen? We believe it will not do so. Until then, please see where you are as a taxpayer and voter on the map, and VOTE NO March 27th. Please pay close attention to the areas enclosed in the "RED" lines, as these are the areas who can now vote on the 9-Mil Tax for the City of Hammond.
Prior to the discovery made, voters in precincts 70 and 72 - Ponchatoula Area - voted for the tax, but did not have to pay it (the Magnet and Crystal Street Tax voted on), and while it was pointed out the few who did vote for the Magnet Tax, was not enough to make a difference in winning or losing the election, we disagree for this reason. One voter voting in an area this far outside of the Hammond District for a tax exclusively for the City of Hammond was one too many, because it was wrong. You will note these two voting precincts have since been removed a few weeks ago, but there are yet major problems with the new and old lines drawn.