Bossier Parish property owners will see an overall decrease on Bossier Schools’ portion of the 2024 tax bill following board action taken at a special-called meeting on October 31.
Chief Financial Officer Nicia Bamburg presented a plan to the Bossier Parish School Board during the special session, addressing the need to roll forward two millages eligible for rollforward following the parishwide property reassessment. One is a constitutional tax approved by voters in 1974 and set at 3.41 mills; the other is for salaries and benefits, which received voter approval in 1996 and was set at 26.57 mills. Rolling forward both millages would equal an additional 2.99 mills to sustain the tax rate from calendar year 2023. Additionally, two other millages, one for maintenance and operations and the other for salaries and benefits, were adjusted down .31 mills each as a result of the assessment, resulting in a .62 decrease.
As a companion item, Bamburg presented a plan that would offset the roll forward by lowering the debt service collected on the 2012 school bond fund by 3.5 mills. These combined actions will result in an overall net decrease of 1.13 mills. Put into perspective, property taxes on a home valued at $250,000 would decrease by approximately $127 per year on Bossier Schools’ portion of the bill.
“Our plan is creative, thoughtful and the best that I have seen that has been rolled out,” said Jason Rowland, Superintendent of Bossier Schools. “Our Chief Financial Officer and her team should be complimented for minimizing dedicated dollars in one area and shifting them to benefit employees and the district, while at the same time giving much-needed tax relief to the residents of Bossier Parish.”