LOCAL

St. George Approves Landmark First Election

Matt Washington

Jul 9, 2024 — 1 min read

BATON ROUGE, La. – In a milestone moment, the City of St. George has officially approved its inaugural election, marking a significant step in its development towards becoming a thriving urban center.

On July 8, the city council authorized the inclusion of a 2% sales tax transfer on the upcoming December 7 ballot. This pivotal decision, reached during a meeting attended by key city officials, underscores St. George’s progress in establishing its administrative and fiscal independence from East Baton Rouge Parish.

Interim Mayor Dustin Yates highlighted the historic nature of the event. "Today was truly historic as it marks the first election ever called for by the City of St. George," he remarked.

The proposed tax transfer, which mirrors the existing 2% sales tax collected by neighboring Central, Zachary, and Baton Rouge, is intended to reallocate funds directly to St. George. “It’s not a new tax,” Yates emphasized. “It’s simply transferring the same two cents from the parish coffers back into the City of St. George.”

In addition to the tax proposal, the council deliberated on the formation of new city districts. While the selection of a demographer to assist in drawing district lines was deferred due to incomplete proposals, discussions are expected to resume in two weeks. Yates expressed confidence in the process, noting the importance of equitable representation. "We aim to ensure that every resident feels heard and invested in our new city," he stated.

The timeline for finalizing the district map is projected to span between 2 to 9 months, during which recommendations will be developed to ensure fair and inclusive representation.

This landmark approval marks a significant step in St. George’s journey towards self-governance and community development, reflecting its ambitions to grow and thrive as an independent city.

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