(The Center Square) — House Bill 480 concerning the Caddo-Bossier Port PILOT program is on the agenda to be heard by the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works on Monday.
HB480 has been deferred multiple times and is now back on the agenda for for the committee.
Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, wants governing authorities in Caddo and Bossier Parishes to provide documentation on abated property taxes to be approved for the PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) program. The bill also would require that specific Caddo and Bossier officials approve the PILOT program for use in their parish.
When the bill was previously discussed, Rep. Bryan Fontenot, R-Thibodeaux, said several Caddo and Bossier officials had sent their opposition to the bill, including Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler, the Bossier Parish Police Jury, Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux, the Caddo Parish Commission, Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Jr. and the Caddo Parish School Board.
The Center Square spoke with the Caddo Parish School Board, which denied having taken a position on the bill. The Caddo Parish Commission voted on a resolution to officially send in their opposition to the legislation.
Some commissioners spoke in favor of the bill suggesting they wait to oppose until the amendment was final, while others spoke in opposition. Parish Administrator Erica Bryant spoke to the commission about her position on the bill.
“The process that the port has been using so far seems to have worked well for the parish,” said Caddo Parish Administrator Erica Bryant. “I’m saying this as a member of the Port Commission, I sit on the Port Board, not so much as your administrator.”
Commission president Stormy Gage-Watts said the PILOT program is critical for economic development in their parish as they battle issues with securing projects, recruiting and retaining jobs in the area.
Lobbyist Chance McNeely addressed the bill in front of the Shreveport City Council. McNeely spoke confidently that the bill is likely to not advance.
“They ended up not even considering the bill at all. I think given that there have been two hearings, it remains in the committee; they haven’t voted, but that bill is likely not to move forward,” said McNeely.
Despite city officials opposing, McCormick said he had not heard of any opposition during the bill’s first hearing a few weeks back.
The bill was originally deferred to May 12 to allow McCormick to discuss the proposed amendment of removing the Louisiana Economic Development from the bill with many officials in the area he represents. It was postponed again on May 12.