After more than 40 years, the Westshore Lake Ponchartrain Levee Project was finally authorized and signed by President Barack Obama.

The project is comprised of 18 miles of earthen levees, flood walls and pump stations between the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Montz and the Hope Canal in Garyville.

The total project cost is estimated at $718 million, with a federal cost-share of 65 percent and a non-federal cost-share of 35 percent.

St. John is responsible for 20 percent of the non-federal cost-share for construction and an estimated $5 million annually for operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and rehabilitation of the levee, which is estimated to be $50 million.

At a special meeting Tuesday night, the Parish Council approved a resolution calling for a special election, authorizing the levy of an Ad Valorem tax on April 29, 2017.

St. John Parish residents will decide whether or not to impose a 7 mills Ad Valorem tax dedicated to this project for a period of 30 years.

Based on current and future assessment projections, residents could see their annual tax bills increase by $17.50 for homes valued at $100,000 to $647.50 for homes valued at $1 million.

Monthly increases would range from around $1.50 to $54 to protect our homes and businesses and to obtain peace of mind during rain and wind events.

This project is critical to protecting our homes, businesses, industries and evacuation routes for Southeastern Louisiana.

Without this protection, St. John remains vulnerable to tidal flooding and storm surge, as demonstrated during Hurricane Isaac in 2012.

Additional information will be forthcoming in the upcoming weeks, and it will be placed on the parish website at sjbparish.com.

Information will also be available by searching the hashtag #SJBPlevee on social media platforms.

Informational meetings will be scheduled throughout the parish, with special presentations at homeowner and other group meetings. It is incredibly important that we do whatever we can to manage flood risks, prevent storm damage and better protect residents and their homes and businesses during severe weather events.

Over the past four and a half years, we have worked long and hard to get to this point, but our work will not be complete until the protection our community deserves is in place.

Natalie Robottom is St. John the Baptist Parish President. She can be reached at
communications@stjohn-la.gov.