East Baton Rouge Tax Proposal Targets St. George

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — East Baton Rouge Parish officials are trying to pass an ordinance that would lock tax funds collected from unincorporated parts of the parish into the city-parish budget.

Some Metro Council members say the move could impede the proposed city of St. George — which is made up of the unincorporated land south of Baton Rouge — from being able to take sales taxes generated in its region away from the city-parish budget.

But William Daniel, chief administrative officer for Mayor-President Kip Holden, tells The Advocate the move has nothing to do with St. George and will not prevent the new city from accessing sales taxes should voters decide to incorporate.

The unincorporated areas of the parish will provide $52.5 million to fund city services in the 2014 budget.