East Feliciana...
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2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAP-UP
SEN. MARIONNEAUX ANNOUNCES OVER $22 MILLION IN
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS HEADED TO EAST FELICIANA PARISH
District 17 State Senator Robert Marionneaux, Jr. (D-Livonia) has announced the results of this year's legislative session and declares it a success for East Feliciana Parish.
As a result of the 2007 legislative session, East Feliciana Parish will see an array of projects and improvements. Starting with over $22 million from HB 2 allocated to the parish for projects such as the Villa Feliciana Medical Complex, East Feliciana Community Center, and East Louisiana State Hospital as well as $169,000.00 from HB 1 for sales tax dedications, facility improvements, economic development, and fire and safety protection.
Several major initiatives were also funded in the budget for the 2007-08 Fiscal year, such as $157.6 million for teachers to reach the southern regional average, an average of $3,926.00 per year for East Feliciana Parish teachers, $30 million for higher education, $33.9 million for support workers, an average of $1,000.00 per year, 142.6 million for state employees, an average of $1,500.00 each, $35.1 million for corrections, probation and parole officers, $28.3 million for supplemental pay for police and firefighters, raising the monthly supplemental pay from $300.00 to $450.00.
"I am happy that we have passed these bills which include significant appropriations for the parish," said Sen. Robert Marionneaux. He continued, “Our local delegation, including Representative Tom McVea, and Representative Robbie Carter really helped guide these allocations through the process.”
Representative Carter stated, "I believe we have correctly spent the state surplus on payments that benefit our local area. I am pleased with the results."
Representative McVea said, "Rob, Robbie and I have worked together to make sure East Feliciana Parish was adequately funded. I'm most proud of the $3.2 million for the Court House Restoration."
The projects listed in HB 2, the state capital outlay bill, details how cash and revenue from state bond sales will be used in the 2007-2008 fiscal year for construction, renovation and repair projects throughout the state. The projects included in HB 2 for East Feliciana Parish totaled $22,825,000.00 and include:
Villa Feliciana Medical Complex
Replace HVAC Systems in Three Patient Buildings $6,500,000.00
New Treatment Plant and Replacement of Exterior
Sewage Collection Lines $1,400,000.00
Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System
Fire Alarm System Replacement for Ten Buildings $2,620,000.00
Center Building and Fire Alarm System Renovation and
Restoration, East Louisiana State Hospital,
Planning and Construction $3,800,000.00
Oakcrest Sprinkler System $ 500,000.00
Replacement of Emergency Generators $1,500,000.00
Central Air Conditioning and Heating of ITU
(Pinel House) $ 135,000.00
East Feliciana Parish
Courthouse Improvements, Planning, Acquisitions,
Renovations, and Construction $4,200,000.00
East Feliciana Community Center
Civic and Community Center for East Feliciana parish,
Roof Replacement $ 350,000.00
Town of Slaughter Water Well $ 200,000.00
Lawmakers approve the capital outlay bill every year, but the projects listed in the bill do not move forward until the State Bond Commission gives its approval.
Also passed was HB 1, the general operating budget for the State of Louisiana which is now $29.7 billion dollars. This figure represents a 3.13 percent increase from last year's budget due to the disaster recovery funds from the federal government. This amount includes $8.4 billion in federal revenue for hurricane recovery. Included in HB 1 were monies for East Feliciana Parish, which totaled $169,000.00.
Those monies include:
Ethel Volunteer Fire Department $10,000.00
McManus Volunteer Fire Department $10,000.00
Slaughter Volunteer Fire Department $10,000.00
East Feliciana Parish Economic Development District $25,000.00
Sales Tax Dedications $ 3,000.00
East Feliciana Tourist Commission Fund $ 3,000.00
Town of Clinton for the Main Street Program $30,000.00
Town of Slaughter for the Water System $50,000.00
Town of Jackson for the Police Department $ 8,000.00
Town of Jackson for facility improvements $20,000.00
Sen. Marionneaux said, "These projects along with the funding associated with each will have a tremendous economic impact on the parish."
This legislative session Senator Marionneaux authored legislation that would establish an annual Louisiana Sales Tax Holiday (SB 3), grant an individual income tax deduction for elementary and secondary education tuition (SB 45) for monies expended to send their kids to private or parochial schools, require elected officials to disclose sources of their income (SB 157), and provide for stipends for military personnel killed or injured while on active duty (SB 158). Senator Marionneaux also authored a Senate Resolution for each Louisiana soldier killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, and honored the soldier and their family during Military Family Day at the Capitol.
For more information please refer to the legislative web site at: www.legis.state.la.us or contact Sen. Marionneaux at 225-637-3623.
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