Moss Bluff Eyes Incorporation

by Chaney Ferguson
The Times of SWLA

 In 2000 Moss Bluff’s population was 10,535 with a growth
rate of 31%.  Today, that number has grown to over 23,000,
bringing the topic of incorporation to the forefront of the
minds of area residents.

 In late January and early February of 2008, the discussions
became more focused, and the incorporation committee began
gathering research and information on the advantages and
disadvantages of becoming incorporated.

  Currently, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury governs the
unincorporated areas of the Parish with Moss Bluff making up
Ward One of that area.
Mike Viator, Chairman of the Committee for a Better Moss Bluff
Inc, says, “Through incorporation the people of Moss Bluff
would have a government that is 100% elected by them and 100%
accountable to them.”

The process of incorporation requires that a petition must be
signed by at least 25% of registered voters in order to be
considered for a ballot vote. The Calcasieu Clerk of Courts
Office reviews the names before passing it along to Governor
Bobby Jindal, and if everything is in order, a special
election is held and must be decided by a majority vote. 

  A quarter cent parish-wide sales tax funds the sheriff’s
department’s operations, including patrols in Ward 1. “We will
probably have to enter into a contractual agreement with Moss
Bluff,” said Sheriff Tony Mancuso.
“I think by law, but I’m not certain, that they have to have a
chief of police that they will pay.”

  Mancuso went on to say that if they want additional police
than what we can provide, then they will have to handle that
themselves.

  Daily operations of a city are driven by funds. Research by
the group Committee for a Better Moss Bluff Inc. reveals the
current sales and property taxes will be enough to pay for the
cost of government and still maintain existing services. 
Moss Bluff currently pays a one cent sales tax which will be
reallocated to the municipality of Moss Bluff. 

 The one cent tax would bring in 1.2 million dollars.
Additional funding would come from business and application
fees on businesses and residences (other non-tax related
fees), as well as a seven mil property tax the entity could
levy for operational purposes.

  These three sources would make up the initial funding
mechanism for the newly incorporated city, bringing the budget
up to approximately 2.5 million dollars.

 “With incorporation comes the birth of a new taxing entity,”
said local Moss Bluff resident Harvey Honsinger. “So far, the
claims are that the sales tax will be sufficient to fund the
needs of what will become the new city.”

  Honsinger went on to say that history nearly always shows
that needs and wants will rise to meet or exceed income. “The
remedy is to impose taxes, and this process usually is an
ongoing one,” he said.

  The committee is encouraging residents to host
“neighborhood” house parties in order to become more
knowledgeable about incorporation. “So far, there has only
been one party,” said Viator, “but more are planned for the
near future.”

  With the vote being eyed for the fall, some residents still
feel in the dark. David and Marcelle Walker and Gene Steech
said they have not received any phone calls or flyers in the
mail notifying them of meetings or information about the
incorporation.

  Some residences thought that Moss Bluff is currently bound
by a taxing contract with the parish until 2024, leaving an
incorporated Moss Bluff without the promise of their tax
dollars being released from the parish.

  However, according to Mark McMurrey, Parish Administrator,
to his knowledge there is no contract with Ward One.

  Viator states that the committee has met with the
Administration at the Police Jury including Mark McMurrey and
Shannon Spell, the Ward One Police Juror, and everyone has
been cooperative with no foreseeable hang-ups.

  Viator says he does not know that anyone has the authority
to get a commitment at this point. He points to previous
studies in 2005 that provide alternative solutions based on
the notion that other costs such as capital improvements
(roads) could continue to be provided by the Calcasieu Parish
Police Jury until the tax comes up for renewal or negations
are made to return the tax monies to Moss Bluff. 

Options mentioned in the 2005 study are:

Continue paying mills and sales tax to have the Police Jury
maintain the roads.

Enter into an agreement with the Police Jury to continue levying the sales tax in Moss Bluff with the proceeds to be
used for roads in Moss Bluff.  The extent of Moss Bluff’s
involvement in determining the work to be done would depend on
the agreement reached with the Police Jury.

Discontinue paying the sales tax to the Police Jury and after
voter approval, levy the tax in Moss Bluff with road
maintenance to be done by Moss Bluff. The city could contract
with private firms for road maintenance, purchase its own
equipment and hire its own employees, or a combination of
both.

  In a newly released statement, Viator said that “Over the
past 3 or 4 weeks, the committee has been looking hard at the
numbers. We, as well as others, have scrutinized them with as
much diligence as possible. While they work, they are very
close. We are going to idle the effort for a little bit to
explore our options,” he said.

  One option is to reduce the size of the proposed city which
would reduce the cost of providing services according to
Viator.

  “Our hope still is to take in as big of an area as possible.

We have had way more calls and e-mails from people who wanted
to be included in the city than from those who did not. We
will explore every scenario,” he concluded.