KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |Lincoln Parish Sheriff puts 1/4-cent sales tax on April ballot

Lincoln Parish Sheriff puts 1/4-cent sales tax on April ballot

By Patrick Roberts

RUSTON, La. (KNOE 8 News) – Lincoln Parish shoppers could be paying a little more for purchases in the spring if they approve a ¼-cent sales tax put on the ballot by Sheriff Mike Stone.

"The past several years, the cost of doing business has just tremendously risen," said Stone.

The tax would work out to a quarter for every $100 spent.  Stone expects that would provide enough cash each year – almost two million dollars' worth – for eight to ten years before another increase might be necessary.

Costs like insurance and gas, combined with a drop in grants from the state and federal governments, have made the sales tax necessary, according to Stone.

"We've made some tough, tough cuts.  We've always been prudent with the money, and watched the money closely," Stone said.

Yet the Sheriff's Office budget has nearly doubled since 2004.  Stone says a big reason for that is his officers are responding to more calls – almost twice as many compared to 2000.

"There's no extra vehicles here, there's no extra personnel here, there's no fancy equipment here.  It is what it is," Stone said.

"I feel very confident letting voters decide whether they think we need additional revenue or not."

The existing property tax millage rate would remain unchanged as well – if that's approved by voters.