Considering the eight issues scored below, Teri Casso supported Republican principles one out of seven times. (One issue is mixed.) This is a score of 14%.
Rolling Property Assessments Forward
On June 15, 2017, the Ascension Parish Council voted on rolling forward various property tax millages. The Pelican Post Online quoted Chief Deputy Assessor Justin Champlin to explain how a roll forward increases taxes based on increased reassessments: "Rolling forward to the maximum millage rate on any property that increased in value from reassessment will result in a tax increase to homeowners and businesses."
Some of the assessments were rolled forward, unanimously by those present (which included all five Republicans):
Realizing, then, that all Republicans had a mixed record of voting for and against tax increases, we are scoring this item based on those items with divided votes:
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Government Intrusion Into Garbage Collection
The Pelican Post Online reported on another effort by some in the Parish government regarding garbage collection: "entry into the franchise garbage business."
Efforts by the government to enter into a segment of the market that is functioning successfully, with free trade and healthy competitors, is an unnecessary erosion of freedom and expansion of government. Council members Dawson, Satterlee, and Cagnolatti voted to postpone the garbage ordinance indefinitely (thus opposing the ordinance); council members Lawler and Casso voted not to postpone, thus allowing for the possibility of government intrusion into the garbage sector. |
Elimination of the Parish President Position
A proposal to amend the Parish charter to eliminate the position of Parish President, replacing it with an appointed Parish Manager, was proposed beginning around July 2017 by A Better Ascension (ABA), a "nonprofit formed by area business people" according to David Mitchell of The Advocate.
This proposal would have reduced accountability in government to the people they are supposed to be serving. In July 2018, the Parish Council rejected ABA's Parish Manager proposal, a victory for accountability of government officials to the people. Bill Dawson, Aaron Lawler, and Teri Casso voted for the Parish Manager proposal; Daniel Satterlee and John Cagnolatti voted against it. |
Bailout of Private Sewer Treatment Plant
Infrastructure that primarily serves new residential or commercial developments should be financed by the owners/users/beneficiaries of the developments, not the larger taxpayer base. This is true of roads (roads should be constructed up to quality standards, such as DOTD standards, before acceptance into the Parish system), it is true of drainage (no adverse impacts to nearby properties or the community), and it is also true of sewer. On May 16, 2018, the Utilities Committee voted to enter into a contract with Ascension Wastewater Utilities (AWT), under which the Parish would pay AWT $306,200 to add sewer capacity to serve two large residential subdivisions plus a storage facility. The subdivisions, Hollows of Dutchtown and Hwy. 73 Homes, should have been responsible for paying for their own wastewater treatment. Adding insult to injury, the contract with AWT did not even give the Parish ownership of the facility.
Councilmen Satterlee and Lawler voted against the contract. Council members Cagnolatti, Casso, and Dawson voted in favor of the expenditure. |
Animal Shelter (CARA)/Animal Control
In 2018, the Parish Council approved a 1-mill animal control tax proposition for all properties in Ascension Parish. This proposition was placed before the entire parish on the election of December 8, 2018, and passed by a vote of 6,398 (51.42%) yes, to 6,045 (48.58%) no.
To our knowledge, Ascension Parish government has never taxed its citizens specifically for animal control before. In the past, money for animal control was administered out of existing taxes. The ARPEC generally opposes new taxes and believes in government "making do" (i.e., managing expenditures responsibly) with the available property and sales taxes. As population and commercial activity rise in the Parish, property and sales taxes naturally rise, so we are generally opposed to further increases in taxes. The Weekly Citizen reported (May 18, 2018) on the discussion of this tax at the May 17, 2018 meeting of the Council. Their coverage included this revealing paragraph: "If approved, the tax would cover the cost of both CARA’s House and animal control. That means the parish would no long [sic] have to fund both services out of the general fund, freeing up more revenue for other services." Judging by this, the effect of this higher tax may not only be better animal control, but also bigger government. The ARPEC is also opposed to placing tax propositions on ballots of low-turnout elections. See also: Proposed tax for Ascension animal shelter on Dec. 8 ballot; early voting is this week All five Republican council members voted at the May 17, 2018 meeting to place this tax issue on the ballot on December 2018 for a run-off election. |
$450,000 for Ascension Master Land Use Plan
The Parish Council passed a "Resolution of the Planning Commission to recommend that the Parish Council approve the allocation of funding to hire a consultant to update the Parish Master Land Use Plan and the Zoning Ordinance" on August 17, 2017. The cost was not to exceed $450,000.
This expenditure is an example of the kinds of studies that waste taxpayer dollars. A previous study done in 2010 was ultimately not implemented due to extensive public opposition to the plan. An in-house update of the existing master plan could have been more aligned with the wishes of the people, and been produced at a lower cost. Such an effort was rebuffed by the Martinez administration shortly after the failed 2010 attempt, and it was again rebuffed by the Matassa administration and the Parish Council in this 2017 vote to hire an outside consultant. Daniel Satterlee opposed this spending, while all the other Republicans supported it. |
Diversion of Hospital Tax to Parish Recreation (Absent from Voting)
In an article entitled "Health care vs. parks: Ascension councilman wants to rededicate hospital sales tax for recreation", David Mitchell of The Advocate reported on an effort by West Bank Parish Council members to redirect half of a half-cent sales tax, that currently goes to the West Ascension Hospital Service District, to West Bank recreation instead.
This was not a new tax, but given the relative importance of health care as opposed to recreation, we do not think it was a wise move. See also: Prevost Hospital tax reduction on November ballot after 5-3 Council vote
Aaron Lawler and Bill Dawson supported this tax redirection. Daniel Satterlee opposed it. Teri Casso and John Cagnolatti were absent.
This was not a new tax, but given the relative importance of health care as opposed to recreation, we do not think it was a wise move. See also: Prevost Hospital tax reduction on November ballot after 5-3 Council vote
Aaron Lawler and Bill Dawson supported this tax redirection. Daniel Satterlee opposed it. Teri Casso and John Cagnolatti were absent.
Abolition of the Planning Commission Appeals Board
On March 16, 2017, the Ascension Parish Council passed an ordinance that revised the process to be followed when an application is denied by the Ascension Parish Planning Commission, and the denial is appealed by the applicant.
Formerly, a three-member Appeals Board, with members appointed by the Parish President and confirmed by a 2/3 vote of the Parish Council, would render a final decision. Under the new ordinance, there is no longer an Appeals Board, and the appeal goes to the Parish Council which renders the final decision. This change was a welcome one for giving the Parish Council more control over, and more responsibility for, contentious situations in which an applicant disputes the decision of the Planning Commission. In 2016, a subdivision application (Brookstone) was recommended for denial by both the Planning Director (Ricky Compton) and the Planning Commission, but a three-member appeals board appointed (with almost no time to spare) by the Parish President voted to overturn the denial without resolving the health, safety, and welfare concerns of the citizenry. Although Council ratification of the Appeals Board technically gave them input into the selection of the members, in reality their hands were tied since no members had been appointed until an appeal had been requested, and appeals must be heard within 40 days. This left too much power for approval in the hands of only one person - the Parish President. Important decisions such as an appeal from the Planning Commission should be subjected to the scrutiny of the entire Parish Council. The abolition of the Appeals Board passed unanimously (although one non-Republican member opposed the introduction of the ordinance). |
Use of Surplus Funds to Pay for Recreation Projects
On March 21, 2019, the Ascension Parish Council voted 8-3 to loan $3 million from the General Fund, as the Pelican Post Online reported, "for recreation projects, most of which is earmarked for 'a second gym' at Lamar Dixon Expo Center."
Even though the intergovernmental loan will not cost the Parish interest, it will still tie up $3 million that could used for projects of higher priority - roads, sewer treatment, or drainage projects. Imagine all of the turn lanes, upgraded culverts, etc. that could have been installed with just the money for a second gymnasium at Lamar-Dixon (the best estimate we see is $2.5 million for this gym). For "a decade or so," part of the Parish's budget surplus will no longer be available for allocation, as councilman Todd Lambert pointed out in the meeting. Daniel Satterlee was the lone Republican opposing this use of surplus funds. |
Taking in State Roads (Absent from Voting)
Parish road funding is insufficient to maintain existing roads in the parish system. Many roads in Ascension are state roads. The parish council agreed to add state road LA 930 and eleven (11) other state roads to their system in order to upgrade LA 930. LA 930 bisects a proposed subdivision, Jamestown Crossing, where Councilwoman Casso owned the property with her family. LA 930 was not a priority for the parish in their Move Ascension program, but was bumped up in order to accommodate this development. Citizens of Ascension already pay taxes to the state to improve state roads in the parish.
Now local government will have to come up with the dollars to upgrade these eleven roads added to an already long list of roads to be improved. This is double taxation! More details can be found at this link: https://pelicanpostonline.com/?p=35169
Councilmen Lawler and Dawson voted Yes. Councilman Satterleee voted No. Councilmembers Casso and Cagnolatti were absent.
Now local government will have to come up with the dollars to upgrade these eleven roads added to an already long list of roads to be improved. This is double taxation! More details can be found at this link: https://pelicanpostonline.com/?p=35169
Councilmen Lawler and Dawson voted Yes. Councilman Satterleee voted No. Councilmembers Casso and Cagnolatti were absent.