You read Think504.com. So, you are highly intelligent, uber informed and just an all-around great citizen. Not only do you know we are in the middle of an election, but you have a god idea about who you are voting for in the governor’s race. But do you know about the 4 constitutional amendments? Are you aware of the 2 city charter change amendments and a city tax renewal? Early voting starts this Saturday. We want to give you the info about all of this. We will be on WBOK to discuss theses in detail. But today you get to see the ballot language and a short description of what they are about.
Constitutional Amendments
CA No. 1 (ACT 200, 2023 – HB 311) – Prohibits the use of private funds in the administration of elections. (Select 1)
Do you support an amendment to prohibit the use of funds, goods, or services from a foreign government or a nongovernmental source to conduct elections and election functions and duties unless the use is authorized by the secretary of state through policies established in accordance with law? (Adds Article XI, Section 6)
Short Explanation- Allows philanthropists or anyone who can afford to pay the costs of holding an election. For example, New Orleans will spend about $400,000 for the upcoming statewide election. A philanthropist can donate money to the clerk of court to offset these costs if you vote yes.
CA No. 2 (ACT 30, 2023 – SB 63) – Provides that the freedom of worship is a fundamental right worthy of the highest protection. (Select 1)
Do you support an amendment to provide that the freedom of worship in a church or other place of worship is a fundamental right that is worthy of the highest order of protection? (Adds Const. Article XII, Section 17)
Short Explanation A yes vote adds more protection to religious freedom. This is primarily for judges in court proceedings. It places a high bar to infringe on a person’s religious freedom.
CA No. 3 (ACT 107, 2023 – HB 47) – Dedicates certain payments to be applied to the state retirement system unfunded accrued liability. (Select 1)
Do you support an amendment to require that a minimum of twenty-five percent of any money designated as nonrecurring state revenue be applied toward the balance of the unfunded accrued liability of the state retirement systems? (Amends Article VII, Section 10(D)(2)(b)(ii) and (iii))
Short Explanation – A yes vote increases the amount legislators must spend out of any surplus dollars on the state employees pensions. The amount increases from 10% to 25%.
CA No. 4 (ACT 48, 2023 – HB 46) – Restricts ad valorem tax exemptions for certain nonprofit organizations. (Select 1)
Do you support an amendment to deny a property tax exemption to a nonprofit corporation or association that owns residential property in such a state of disrepair that it endangers public health or safety? (Amends Article VII, Section 21(B))
Short Explanation – A yes vote allows municipalities to remove the tax exemption for slum landlords. Mold, bad roofs, faulty plumbing and electricity are some of the stated criteria in the new law, if passed.
City Law Changes
PW HRC Amendment Prop. No. 1 of 2 – Art. VI, Sec. 6-102 & 6-104 – CC (Select 1)
Shall Article VI, Sections 6-102 and 6-104 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans be amended to move up the deadline by which the City Planning Commission must submit a capital program to the Mayor; and by which the operating budget, the proposed revenue and operating budget ordinances, the capital program as prepared by the City Planning Commission, the Mayor’s capital budget message, and the proposed capital budget ordinance must be submitted to the Council by thirty days so that the Council may have additional time to conduct public hearings and to receive input on budget matters, as provided in Ordinance No. 29370 M.C.S.?
Short Explanation – A yes vote doubles from one month to two months the time the city council gets to review the mayor’s operating budget. For decades, various councils have complained that they do not have enough time to fully review the city’s budget and properly fund the various departments.
PW HRC Amendment Prop. No. 2 of 2 – Art. IV, Sec. 4-702 & 4-801 – CC (Select 1)
Shall the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans be amended to establish the Department of Code Enforcement to inspect substandard property and authorize demolition or remediation of property hazardous to the public health, safety, and welfare, and to enforce laws and regulations for maintaining streets, vacant lots, and other places free from weeds, trash, and deleterious matter, thereby reassigning such functions from the Departments of Safety and Permits and Sanitation to the Department of Code Enforcement, as provided in Ordinance No. 29371 M.C.S.?
Short Explanation – A yes vote sets up an entirely new city department and reorganizes code enforcement. This new department is given clearly defined roles and organizational structure.
PW School Board Proposition – 4.97 Mills Renewal – SB – 20 Yrs. (Select 1)
Shall the Orleans Parish School Board (the “School Board”) renew the levy and collection of a tax of four and ninety-seven hundredths (4.97) mills on the dollar of the assessed valuation of property within the City of New Orleans assessed for City Taxation, (an estimated $20,450,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of twenty (20) years, beginning in 2025, for the purpose of preservation, improvement and capital repairs of all existing public school facilities, to be levied and collected in the same manner as is set forth in Article VIII, Section 13(C)(Second) of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974?
Short Explanation – A yes vote renews the current millage that is used to fund school building repairs. After Hurricane Katrina, the city built and renovated 75 school buildings. This money is spent to maintain those buildings.
We will have a deeper dive over the next couple of weeks and give more details and a look at how you vote might impact the city and state.