Brian Ardoin visited Tuesday’s meeting of the Ville Platte City Council to discuss with members his opposition to Sheriff Charles Guillory’s proposed 1% sales tax. Ardoin stated that the taxes in our parish are already over 50% higher than that of the rest of Louisiana. He said that Evangeline Parish is in the top 2% highest sales tax in the state of Louisiana, and that we’re in the top 5% highest sales tax nationwide. He personally believes that to call on another sales tax is asking too much of the people and that there are other, more effective solutions to the budget should be discussed.

Brian Ardoin visited Tuesday’s meeting of the Ville Platte City Council to discuss with members his opposition to Sheriff Charles Guillory’s proposed 1% sales tax. Ardoin stated that the taxes in our parish are already over 50% higher than that of the rest of Louisiana. He said that Evangeline Parish is in the top 2% highest sales tax in the state of Louisiana, and that we’re in the top 5% highest sales tax nationwide. He personally believes that to call on another sales tax is asking too much of the people and that there are other, more effective solutions to the budget should be discussed.

Finally, Brian Ardoin stressed that the 1% sales tax is a perpetual tax and not a temporary one. While he agrees that the Sheriff’s Office’s current $2.5 million budget is not a lot of money, he questions the ethicality of voting in a tax that would continue with future generations.

In other news, Mayor Jennifer Vidrine would like to remind everyone that Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccinations will be available via drive-thru and walk-up at the Ville Platte Civic Center. The first dose will be on April 22^nd starting at 8 a.m.; the second dose will be on May 20^th starting at 8 a.m.

Mayor Vidrine would also like to remind the public to register or apply for Louisiana rental assistance, even if you are on an assistance program like Section 8. The assistance is available retroactively from April 2020, and renters can apply online.