This May 16, voters are being asked to navigate a complex ballot that could permanently alter the structure of our state government and the future of our local schools. While many of these proposals are wrapped in the language of “modernization” or “support,” a closer look reveals a pattern of short-term thinking and a lack of accountability.
Our Position: We recommend a NO vote on Amendments 1, 2, 3, and 4, and a NO vote on both Monroe City School renewals. We support Amendment 5.
The reasons for this stance are simple: we believe in protecting professional expertise over political patronage, safeguarding the integrity of our school districts, and ensuring that tax dollars in Monroe are tied to specific, permanent guarantees for our teachers and students.
The Constitutional Amendments
Amendment 1 (State Civil Service): NO This amendment is a direct threat to the merit-based system that keeps our state running. By allowing the Legislature to bypass the Civil Service Commission and reclassify protected jobs as “unclassified,” we are inviting a return to the “spoils system.” Government positions should be filled by qualified professionals who cannot be fired for refusing to play political games.
Amendment 2 (St. George School System): NO Fragmenting school districts is a zero-sum game. Carving out a new district in St. George would drain over $100 million from the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. This resource depletion creates a “haves and have-nots” scenario that undermines the stability of public education for the entire region.
Amendment 3 (Teacher Pay & Trust Funds): NO Our teachers deserve raises, but they also deserve a sustainable future. This amendment “raids” permanent trust funds to pay for current expenses. Relying on one-time debt-reduction savings to fund recurring raises is fiscally irresponsible. Once these funds are exhausted, the state will be forced to find a new revenue stream or cut the very raises this amendment promises.
Amendment 4 (Business Inventory Tax): NO Eliminating this tax creates a massive, permanent budget hole for local parishes and school boards. While the state promises one-time payments to bridge the gap, there is no guarantee for long-term replacement. This loss of local revenue will inevitably lead to service cuts or higher property taxes for homeowners.
Amendment 5 (Judicial Retirement Age): YES This is the only amendment that addresses a modern reality without compromising long-term stability. Raising the mandatory retirement age from 70 to 75 allows us to retain the peak professional wisdom of our most experienced judges. It brings the judiciary in line with modern life expectancy and ensures we don’t lose seasoned legal minds prematurely.
Monroe City School Renewals: A Demand for Better Terms
We cannot support the two Monroe City School Renewals in their current form. These measures are being presented as simple extensions of existing taxes, but we believe the community deserves a more detailed and permanent commitment to classroom excellence.
We urge a NO vote so these measures can be defeated, reworked, and placed on the November ballot with the following essential changes:
- Make the Tax Permanent: The operations of our school system should not be subject to political whims every ten years. A permanent tax provides the stability our children need.
- Dedicated Personnel: A portion of this tax must be legally dedicated to ensuring every classroom teacher has a dedicated aide or assistant. Furthermore, every school must have trained resource personnel designated proportionately to the school’s size.
- Detailed Projects: Any major construction or maintenance projects must be specifically spelled out in the tax call. Voters should not have to guess how $84 million is being spent.
- No Administrative Bloat: The funds should be strictly prohibited from being used for salaries or raises for administrators. The focus must remain on the classroom.
The Transition Problem
With four or possibly five of the current seven board members being term-limited and leaving in January, we are facing a massive leadership transition.
Leaving “promises” about teacher aides or security to an unknown future board is a risk we cannot afford. Placing these requirements directly into the tax call ensures they remain legal obligations, not political options.
