Tax Millage Renewal - December 10th

Sales Tax 75%, Property Tax 25%

Seventy-five percent of the City's revenue is generated through sales tax. Much appreciation to the grocery stores, retailers, pharmacies and great restaurants that help fund our city services / improvements.

Twenty-five percent of the City's revenue comes from property tax "millage" paid by property owners. This tax must be re-approved by the voters every ten years. That time has come again.

Side note: As property values increase, the City Council routinely votes to "roll back" the millage i.e. reduce the amount one pays. Although property values increase, what one pays remains the same. Kudos to the Council.

Side note #2: Property owners in the city of Covington have the lowest property taxes in all of St. Tammany Parish. This is due to the fact that we do not fully fund the fire department through property taxes and we lack a parish recreation district (such as Coquille, Pelican Park, Magnolia Park).

Side note #3: We are the only city in the Parish with its own Fire Department and the only one on this side of the parish with its own Recreation Department. Elsewhere, Fire and Recreation are funded by additional dedicated property taxes.

Fiscal Priorities

In No Particular Order

Sewer Collection

Beginning with then Mayor Mike Cooper's administration and continuing over the past three years, we have worked hard to identify broken terracotta sewer lines, make repairs and then line the collection pipes with a cured-in-place plastic coating which in effect makes the pipe "like new." Almost every street patch you see on Gibson, Rutland, Jahncke and New Hampshire is the repair point of a broken pipe.

During a rain storm, the lift station near Christ Episcopal would run 22 hours non-stop. Due to these repairs the run time has decreased to 16 hours. This is a good thing.

Litterphobia

Litter abatement is a coordinated effort between our Public Works Department, Coastal Environmental Services, Keep Covington Beautiful and our citizens.

Code Enforcement has tackled the problem of illegal dumping and sponsored tire collections. In 2023 we expect them to focus on blighted housing.

This concerted effort by all has resulted in a reduction of debris on the roadsides and litter in general. It feels better.

Fire Department

Investment in people, a second station off of Ronald Reagan Bypass and updated fire trucks has resulted in the Covington FD's rating recently increasing from a level 3 to a level 2. Level 2 is the best a department our size can achieve.

This benefits all of us with lower insurance rates (or at least a lower rate of increases).

Cultural Arts and Events

It is literally impossible to attend all the different events our city hosts each year … many with the help of the Covington Business Association, the Covington Heritage Foundation, our non-profit community and parade krewes.

Centuries of history, unbelievable cuisine and over 100 free musical acts each year help make Covington one of the coolest cities in the Northern Hemisphere.

Sewer Treatment Plant

Significant improvements completed or on the way at the Waste Water Treatment Plant include a new screening device, two new effluent pumps, a new generator and additional aerators to the pond (which will theoretically reduce odor).

Side note: A recent surprise visit by LA DEQ resulted in a great inspection report. Big thanks to the men who man the plant and professionally treat (and discharge) a million gallons of waste water daily.

Police Department

The administration, teaming up with the Council, increased pay for police officers which in turn led to our force being fully staffed for the first time in many years.

The appointment of Mike Ferrel as Chief re-invigorated the force. In little more than the past 12 months, over 60 guns have been taken off the streets, more than 500 grams of heroin / fentanyl have been removed and more than 100 felony arrests have been made. Both the guns and those using the guns are being taken from the streets. Hence, year to date reports of gun fire have decreased by 50%.

Speeding Mitigation

The Slow Your Roll campaign has prompted accidental speeders (those like me who are going faster than they realize) to slow down.

For long stretches of street with high pedestrian traffic, driveway cuts and no sidewalks, the introduction of speed tables has proven to be helpful.

In place of more four way stop signs, delineators (vertical fiberglass poles) are slowing drivers down.

Covington PD has also created a position for an officer that focuses solely on traffic enforcement … and he likes it ; ).

Drainage

Acquisition of a new "Spider" machine allowed Public Works to attack clogged tributaries with a vengeance. Blue Swamp Creek in particular got a good cleaning.

Contracting with a land surveyor began providing the city valuable topographical elevation surveys which in turn led to PW correcting legacy drainage issues.

The Council allocated funds for cleaning out detention ponds in The Savannahs and in 2023 for Oak Alley. Increased detention of rain run-off benefits not only those neighborhoods but also everyone downstream …

which in Covington is all of us.

The measures on the ballot are the renewal of existing property taxes which fund 25% of city government. A Yes vote indicates your approval of the Mayor, my administration, the Council and the direction in which we, the City, are headed.

This is not a new tax.

Please, Mark Your Calendar

Early Voting for the December 10th Election

Saturday, November 26th - Saturday, December 3rd

(Think the Week After Thanksgiving)

Closed on Sunday.

At 601 N. Jefferson Avenue, Justice Center Parking Garage

Please share this e-mail with whoever you believe may find it of value.

Replies to this e-mail go directly to Mayor Mark.

Rooted in History, Focused on the Future