Why not propose a sales tax instead of a property tax to pay for new libraries?
By state law, state, local, and parishwide sales taxes in a parish must not exceed 9%, excluding law enforcement taxes. The state portion is 4%, therefore a parish may not levy sales taxes exceeding 5% in any taxing district within the parish. Mandeville’s current tax rate is 9.25% which includes an exempt one/quarter cent Sheriff’s tax. St. Tammany is thus at its maximum sales tax capacity and cannot levy additional non-law enforcement sales taxes without enabling legislation from the state legislature.
