By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – In a move that will save the parish from losing a substantial amount of money on property tax collection, the St. John Parish Council voted Tuesday to keep the tax rate at the 2009 level.

Parish Assessor Whitney Joseph told the council at their regular meeting Tuesday that a re-assessment of all property in the parish showed a $4.1 million decrease in the tax roll value. He said the re-assessment showed that the parish would be required to roll millage rates back from 38.91 mills to 38.84.

Joseph explained that the decrease and tax roll value coupled with the millage roll back for 2010 would result in a loss of $500,000 for all of the parishes taxing bodies. If the tax rate is left at the 2009 rate, parish taxing agencies would only stand to lose about $162,000.

The ordinance passed unanimously.

In other action from Tuesday, the parish opened bids on a drainage improvement project for the Balsam Street neighborhood of LaPlace. The drainage project is one of several tied to the 2009 bond issue. The apparent low bidder for the work was Sampey General Construction, who bid $60,058. Estimated budget for the project was $90,000.

The parish also awarded a contract for pavement improvements to the West Bank Park Complex to HHP Construction of LaPlace. The firm submitted a low bid of $239,840 for the work. The project, which is also tied to the 2009 bond issue, was budgeted at $248,920.

The council also introduced an ordinance to hold a special election to authorize use of revenue from a 1 percent sales tax for the parish’s water department. The measure would appear on the Nov. 2 ballot, pending council approval. The tax is normally applied to the wastewater and public works departments, but recent changes to the parish water system requires more funding.