Election Day in Natchitoches Parish is on Saturday, November 18, 2023.
Voters in School District #8 (Provencal) and School District #6 (Cloutierville) will see an in lieu of school tax on the ballot. This is an ad valorem tax of 8 mills for BRE funding (Building Repairs and Equipment Fund) which will fund Provencal Elementary and Jr. High’s BRE to an estimated $410,000.00 annually. Building Repair and Equipment funding is essential for our schools. These funds do not go to salaries or individuals. The funding goes directly to the repairs at the school, building projects, and equipment for those schools.
Although a “Yes” vote by anyone funds Provencal and sets the rate at 8 mills, it has slightly different implications for residents of Provencal than it does for those Cloutierville.
Cloutiervile
In district 6 when the Cloutierville school was open, residents were paying 7 mills toward the BRE funding for the Cloutierville School. After the school closed, that funding ceased and Cloutierville students transferred to Provencal. While the students transferred to Provencal and increased the population of the school, they went there without any funding following them. A “Yes” vote would fully fund Provencal Elementary and Junior high by having Cloutierville residents fund Cloutierville students. Cloutierville was at 7 mills prior in 2017-2018. A “Yes” vote would bring the Cloutierville millage to 8 mills.
Provencal
The current millage for BRE in Provencal is 14 mills, voting yes would result in a reduction of 6 mills for those residents. In other words, a “Yes” vote would lower every property tax bill in the Provencal school district.
Whether you live in Provencal or Cloutierville we ask you to consider the importance of the vote before you on November 18th. Remember, a “Yes” vote fully funds the students of both Cloutierville and Provencal who attend Provencal Elementary and Jr. High.
Sincerely,
Dr. Grant Eloi, NPSB Superintendent
