Livingston Parish Agencies To Fund New Courthouse

LIVINGSTON, La. (AP) — Livingston Parish agencies are piecing together money to fill a shortfall of more than $3 million as they prepare to begin construction on an $18.4 million courthouse.

Marshall Harris, chairman of the council's Finance Committee, tells The Advocate the parish council realized it can save about $622,000 on building material sales taxes. Harris says the parish can claim an exemption on those taxes.

Clerk of Court Tom Sullivan said his office and three other agencies have agreed to come up with the other half of the shortfall.

Sullivan says it appears that the Clerk of Court's Office and the Sheriff's Office will each owe roughly $600,000, the district attorney will owe about $300,000 and the judges will owe a total of about $300,000 for their office space.