St. George Schedules Tax Vote After Supreme Court Upholds Incorporation
ST. GEORGE, La. — The Louisiana Supreme Court affirmed the incorporation of St. George on Thursday, solidifying its status as one of the state's largest cities. The court, by a narrow margin, dismissed claims that the city's organizers failed to adequately outline governance plans for its 100,000 residents in southeastern East Baton Rouge Parish.
In response to the ruling, city leaders promptly scheduled a meeting for Thursday night to set a tax election for Dec. 7, aiming to raise essential funds for the new city's operations.
This decision likely concludes Metro Councilman Lamont Cole's objections, which argued that St. George's creation would adversely affect the rest of the parish. Although Cole may appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, the nation's highest court rarely engages in local-level issues of this sort.
Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome expressed disappointment with the ruling: "While we respect the decision of the Louisiana Supreme Court, we remain concerned about the potential negative impacts on the broader Baton Rouge community. We will continue to work to ensure that all residents of East Baton Rouge Parish are fairly represented and that essential services are maintained."
Opponents continue to voice concerns about boundary definitions, the formal incorporation timeline, and pension obligations. Nevertheless, St. George's leadership is moving forward, planning a meeting to approve a public vote on funding mechanisms.
Earlier this year, two lower courts had blocked St. George's incorporation due to insufficient operational details provided by its proponents. Instead of remanding the case for further review, the Louisiana Supreme Court intervened directly, voting 4-3 to allow the incorporation.
Thursday's decision mirrored the earlier ruling, maintaining the 4-3 split in favor of incorporation.
St. George representatives expressed relief in a statement: "The City of St. George cannot be overturned, and its citizens now turn their attention and focus on moving forward in building their city. The City of St. George has been progressing despite ongoing litigation, and now the final hurdle has been cleared for Louisiana’s newest city."
