Louisiana lawmakers nix gas tax hike but advance plan to extend sales tax
Mark Ballard
BATON ROUGE Saying something must be done to find the money to fix the state s crumbling highways and dangerous bridges, the Louisiana House s tax-writing committee rejected the latest effort to increase the tax on gasoline but advanced a bill that would extend the temporary sales tax increase.
On an 8-8 vote late Tuesday night, the House Ways & Means Committee sidelined House Bill 615. The measure started out proposing lowering one dedicated tax and raising another with the effect of increasing the tax on gasoline at the pump. that would have raised about $315 million in additional revenues per year to address a $14 billion backlog on road needs.
More repairs planned for I-210 Bridge
I-210 Bridge repairs By Jade Moreau | April 27, 2021 at 10:50 PM CDT - Updated April 27 at 11:37 PM
LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - It’s hard to forget the traffic nightmare that came along with construction on the I-210 bridge in 2019, but more traffic delays are expected when repairs are made to the bridge’s lights.
Just months after the lighting system went up, it was damaged in the hurricanes.
Damage to the bridge’s lighting system makes for another costly repair at $1.2 million. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development says these repairs will be made to withstand stronger winds.
Mount Clemens considers leasing building to Boys & Girls Clubs
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MOUNT CLEMENS The city of Mount Clemens is in talks to turn a community center into an area for youth development.
At the April 19 City Commission meeting, Shawn Wilson, the president & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, provided the commission with an update.
Wilson spoke about potentially opening a club in Mount Clemens at the Cairns Community Center.
“When I came here a couple of years ago, the thought was to reimagine the model for greater community impact,” he said. “We started by engaging the community, asking how we reimagine the brand.”
“Busy,” said Shawn Wilson, proprietor, as he stepped from the garage into the customer lounge.
Next door is busy, too, but not in a good way. At least, not for Stiles’ Sunoco, a family-owned business at the corner of Route 38 and Hartford Road for 55 years. A new neighbor’s moving in.
“Wawa,” Wilson said, “Eight pumps. I didn’t even know they were coming until I got a call from a reporter.”
For a little guy like Wilson, it unnerves to learn a corporate competitor like Wawa, everyone’s favorite convenience store, is coming to eat your lunch.
The phone call from the reporter came last November.
This week, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced that the state of Louisiana has received approximately $216 million to be allocated for road and infrastructure projects throughout the state. This is part of the $1.4 trillion 2020 Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act passed by Congress last year.
According to a press release from Governor John Bel Edwards Office, $155 million is to be used at the state s discretion, $30 million specifically for bridge repair and/or replacement, $20 million for the state’s large metro areas and $11 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructures.
“As you are all aware, the state’s roads and bridges are in great need of repair and upgrade,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards at Monday s press conference. “Addressing these needs has been a priority of my administration. We have proven what we can do when we have funds and have invested over $3 billion in infrastructure since 2016, despite a 1980 s revenue s