Louisiana Senate rejects permanent local say for industrial tax breaks

The Louisiana Senate rejected Senate Bill 151 last week, which would have allowed voters statewide to decide whether sheriffs, school boards and parish councils would retain their authority over ITEP, reports the Louisiana Illuminator. The bill was sponsored by Sen. J. Rogers Pope, R-Denham Springs.

Gov. John Bel Edwards issued an executive order six years ago that gave locals the right to approve or reject their share of the Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP), and a proposed amendment to bake that change into the state constitution failed to gain the support it needed. Read the entire story.