The St. John School Board recently announced to retry their earlier failed attempt to have St. John voters approve a quarter cent sales tax.

With continued student losses to other Parishes, I have yet to hear an explanation why the School Board believes this proposed sales tax increase is justified and what it is proposed to be used for.

Especially when the School Board is spending nearly $2 million to retrofit the East St. John and West St. John football fields with artificial turf.

If anything, with so many student losses, you would think they could afford to cut taxes, not increase them?

This proposed sales tax, if passed, along with the recent State’s increase in sales tax would make Louisiana first in the Nation for something not at all good … the highest state sales tax in the country.

Of equal concern, the School Board is proposing the sales tax increase election in a December special election, instead of including it in the existing Nov. 8 Federal and State election!

Special elections result in an additional cost to Parish taxpayers of approximately $30+ thousand to put on such an election.

I’m sure by now all Parish tax payers realize the reason why various Parish branches of government always want these tax increases in a “Special Election” is to try to increase their chances of getting their proposal passed, betting that most voters will not show up to vote, except their supporters.

Two years ago, there were four special elections in one year. It is time to stop this corruption people! Is it any wonder why more and more people are leaving St. John Parish for Gonzales, Prairieville and beyond?

A.J. “Pete” Landry

LaPlace