BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana State Bond Commission on Thursday approved election applications for multiple parishes and authorized loans and bond financing for capital projects statewide, setting the stage for voter decisions and infrastructure investments in fiscal 2026.
The commission approved election applications for Bienville, Calcasieu, Cameron, Claiborne, East Feliciana, Franklin, Lafourche, Ouachita, Rapides, Richland, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes. Voters will consider a range of property and sales tax propositions on May 16 and June 27, 2026, covering funding for fire protection, health care, roads, schools, drainage and other local services.
In addition to election matters, the commission authorized financing for several capital projects, including a $6.32 million loan for Bossier Parish Police Jury’s Consolidated Waterworks and Sewerage District No. 1 for system improvements, and $145 million in revenue bonds through the Louisiana Community Development Authority for the Lake Charles Rebound Project.
Other approvals included $5.9 million in revenue bonds for the Morehouse Parish School Board to construct a junior high school facility for the Beekman Charter School project; $2.7 million in limited tax revenue bonds for the Ouachita Parish Police Jury to construct and equip a new animal shelter; and $3.1 million in limited tax bonds for the city of Morgan City in St. Mary Parish for hurricane-related demolition, rehabilitation and facility improvements tied to Hurricane Francine.
State Treasurer and Bond Commission Chairman John Fleming, M.D., said the approvals support a range of local priorities. “The projects approved today represent smart investments in Louisiana’s future,” Fleming said. “From hurricane recovery to upgrading infrastructure to constructing an animal shelter and new school facilities, these actions provide local governments the tools they need to deliver for the people of Louisiana.”
For fiscal 2026, the commission has approved dozens of projects and elections statewide. It has issued $504 million to refinance outstanding bonds, producing $12.9 million in savings for the state through 2035. The commission has also approved 110 debt applications totaling $2.79 billion and 120 local government elections.
The State Bond Commission reviews applications from parishes, municipalities, special taxing districts and other political subdivisions seeking authority to incur debt or levy taxes. Commission approval is required before public entities may borrow funds or issue bonds, with applications reviewed for legal compliance and financial feasibility.
Fleming credited commission staff for the volume of work, citing “our team of committed professionals who work tirelessly to serve the taxpayers of Louisiana.”