A sales tax measure that was originally set for a May ballot item that was postponed until August has been withdrawn by the St. Mary Parish School Board.
According to the St. Mary Parish School Board, the withdraw of the tax measure comes as the coronavirus continues to impact the local economy and remains a serious concern for the area. The Board also noted discrepancies in the ballot language which further led to its removal.
The school board acted this week to verify their intentions to withdraw the tax measure and submitted it to the appropriate state election officials.
Superintendent Teresa Bagwell says that the school board is "highly cognizant of its role as a governing body to serve as responsible stewards of public funding while correspondingly acting to recruit and retain certified teachers."
In December, the board voted to begin the process of placing a sales tax measure on the ballot that would make St. Mary competitive with surrounding parishes in this area.
The current public health emergency and its effects on the local economy, Bagwell says, resulted in a reconsideration of the measure. Board members agreed that it was most appropriate to withdraw the tax measure.
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