SHREVEPORT, La - Voters in Shreveport will go back to the polls in April to vote on three bond measures.
The bond propositions are designed to improve the city's infrastructure. Shreveport Bossier African American Chamber, Greater Shreveport Chamber, BRF and Renew Shreveport gathered Tuesday to announce their support for the measures.Â
In total, the city is asking for $256 million. To break that down, $125 million is for repairing streets and drainage, $82 million toward upgrading the water and sewer systems and $49 million for improving police and fire facilities.
"Over the last number of years, really the last decade and a half, we have not made sufficient investment in our infrastructure. We haven't approved a major street bond issue since 2011," said Mayor Tom Arceneaux.
Property owners will start paying for the bonds with increased property taxes starting in 2027.
"There's very modest increases that happen in '27 and '28 and going forward. Later on, we'll have some bonds that will be coming off. So the tax increase is there, but it is very modest, and it doesn't happen until 2027," said Arceneaux.
The Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce believes these bonds will have a positive impact on the community.
"Well, it's important to be proactive and not reactive, and so this is our attempt to do that. This bond will help us be more proactive in fixing what needs to be fixed before it gets so bad off," said Kalli Combs, Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce executive director.
What if the bonds don't get voter approval?
"If they don't pass, we're not going to have the money to redo a lot of streets. We won't have the money to do the kinds of things in the water and sewer departments that are so important to our infrastructure. Now we have other options for that, but that would involve further rate increases, and we'd like to avoid that," said Arceneaux.
Residents will have the opportunity to vote on these bonds on the April 27 ballot. Early voting begins on April 13.
