No. It is not a new tax and there is no additional cost to taxpayers. This is the renewal of a half-cent sales tax originally approved by Jefferson Parish voters in 1993. Jefferson Parish voters have approved the renewal of this half-cent sales tax twice since 1993.

Jefferson Parish Schools uses the funds to help pay for foundational needs like school counselors and social workers, salaries and benefits for teachers and staff, updated learning materials and technology, and the maintenance, safety, and upkeep of our aging facilities.

Everyone who buys taxable goods in Jefferson Parish pays the sales tax. Along with Jefferson Parish citizens, this includes visitors and tourists.

A half-cent sales tax amounts to one-half cent for every $1. For example, if you purchase $100 of taxable goods at a store in Jefferson Parish, the half-cent sales tax would be 50 cents.

Strong public schools matter to everyone who lives in Jefferson Parish. When more students graduate, our community is more likely to have a quality workforce, stronger economy, healthier citizens, families who come and stay, businesses that come and stay, higher property values, safer neighborhoods, and a stronger military.

It means approximately $57 million in revenue for Jefferson Parish Schools, which accounts for just over 10% of the district’s total budget.

These funds are dedicated and can only be used for what is included on the ballot and approved by voters. Jefferson Parish Schools can only use the funds for those purposes. The district makes its budget available online each year and recently debuted an online check portal where anyone can view how funds are utilized. These resources demonstrate the value we place on being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. The new interactive check portal further demonstrates our efforts towards even greater financial transparency and accountability. In addition, the District is audited by an independent auditor annually. The most recent audit report included a clean audit opinion with no findings.

Both the tax voted on in November and the one on the April 30 ballot are renewals, meaning their renewal does not cause any additional costs. The November renewal was for a property tax millage and this renewal is for a half-cent sales tax. Another difference is what they support. The November renewal generates just over $34 million for teacher salaries and benefits. The April sales tax renewal has a wider range of uses and accounts for just over 10% of our total budget. This half-cent renewal turns into $57 million to help our schools pay for things like school counselors and social workers, safe school buildings, teacher and staff salaries and benefits, and high-quality learning materials.

The April sales tax renewal accounts for just over 10% of our total budget. Removing 10% of our total budget would involve drastic cuts that would dramatically reduce the services we provide for students, families, and the community. This could include a significant reduction in force, numerous school closures and consolidations, and the loss of vital services, activities, and programs.

Election day is Saturday, April 30. If you're planning to be at Jazz Fest that weekend, take advantage of the early voting period. Early voting is April 16-23 (closed Sunday, April 17).

You can register to vote in person or online. The last day to register in person is March 30. The last day to register online is April 9. Jefferson Parish has an easy to use webpage with resources on how to register, where, and what information is needed.