St. Helena...
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2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAP-UP
SEN. MARIONNEAUX ANNOUNCES OVER $1 MILLION IN
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS HEADED TO ST. HELENA 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 St. Helena Parish.
St. Helena Parish will see an array of projects and improvements as a result of the 2007 legislative session totaling $1,900,000.00. From HB 2, $1,400,000.00 was allocated to the parish for projects such as court house renovations, road improvements, and a fire station and community center. St. Helena Parish will also receive $500,000.00 from HB 1 for a Welcome Centers Program, tourist commission, and parish council.
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 $2,375.00 per year for St. Helena 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 with the outcome of this session and that we were able to pass these bills which include significant appropriations for the parish. Senator Nevers and Representatives Tom McVea and Robbie Carter really helped guide these allocations through the process." said Sen. Robert Marionneaux.
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 St. Helena Parish totaled $ 1,400,000.00 and include:
-Emergency ADA and Life Safety Renovations to the Court House
Planning and Construction $900,000.00
-Eddy Road Improvements, Planning and Construction $ 50,000.00
-Fire Station and Community Center, Planning and Construction $250,000.00
-St. Helena Hospital
Drainage and Parking Improvements, Planning and Construction $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 St. Helena Parish, which totaled $500,000.00. Those monies include:
-Welcome Centers Program for the St. Helena Parish Tourist Commission $ 90,000.00
-St. Helena Tourist Commission $ 60,000.00
-St. Helena Parish for James Holmes Road $ 75,000.00
-St. Helena Parish for David Lee Road $ 50,000.00
-St. Helena Parish for Pumping Station Road $100,000.00
-St. Helena Parish Council $ 75,000.00
-St. Helena Parish Police Jury for Beaver Run Road $ 50,000.00
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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Numbers that shape your parish....
Total St. Helena Parish registered voters in District 17 - 3,833
Democrat 77%
Republican - 10%
other 13%
Total Voters Senate District 17
Registered voters 79,921
Democrat - 66.75%
Republican - 17.66%
Other - 16.59%
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