Jimmy Pohlman says he needs increase to keep residents safe
With a decrease in population after Katrina and a resulting drop in sales tax revenue, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jimmy Pohlman will ask voters to double the sheriff department's property tax millage in April.
Under his proposal, it would rise from 15.68 mills to 30.68.
Pohlman has told The Advocate his budget has been reduced by more than $2 million and he been forced to eliminate 50 positions. He currently has 265 employees.
The sheriff told the newspaper it would be "difficult" to make additional staffing cuts without jeopardizing his department's ability to keep residents safe.
Pohlman says the proposed tax increase would raise the tax on a property valued at $150,000 by about $120 per year.
