Terrebonne Schools Chief Seeks Revenue

HOUMA, La. (AP) — Terrebonne Parish Schools Superintendent Philip Martin says he might soon ask the School Board to seek a tax increase to solve the district's financial problems.

The Courier reports (http://bit.ly/MCuWAB) Martin told School Board members earlier this week that after years of cutbacks, the school system may no longer be able to balance its budget by cutting expenses.

"There are two ways you can balance a budget. You can cut expenses or you can raise revenues," he said. "We've cut expenses to the point where have to start having discussions about other options."

Martin said he will bring revenue-raising proposals to the board within the next few weeks.

He noted that Terrebonne's school system collects far less in property taxes than other nearby districts.

Board President L.P. Bordelon said any proposal to place a tax increase before voters would require a least a month in the board's internal process. Voters, he said, would make the ultimate decision on whether to raise taxes to fund school operations.

Bordelon said Martin was short on specifics about possible revenue-raising measures.

"He didn't go into any details about what he wanted," Bordelon said. "He's going to come back to us through committees, and we'll address it then."

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Information from: The Courier, http://www.houmatoday.com