Police Jury Grants Tax Exemption to Cabot April 14, 2021 The Evangeline Parish Police Jury, Wednesday, meeting in a special session voted 8-1 to grant an Industrial Tax Exemption to Cabot Corporation. Following the vote, there was a loud applause by members of the audience. The lone police juror voting against the action was District Two Juror Sidney Fontenot. In his comments after the vote Fontenot stated" We are a financially strapped parish. The money we are giving up is money we desperately need. Since we're giving Cabot a tax break , can we ask the public to vote for a tax next year?" The motion to grant the exemption was made by Juror Bryan Vidrine. Vidrine said this was a hard decision to make. "We need more money for our parish but Cabot has been a good steward and they have greatly benefited out parish." The proposal calls for approval of the tax exemption for a five year term. It stipulates that the police jury will have the authority to review the exemption after five years to decide whether to allow the exemption to proceed for an additional five year period. Cabot Facility Manager Derrick Turner said he has cleared the offer by the police jury with Cabot leaders. Juror Eric Soileau said the initial ten year exemption was too long. He thanked Cabot officials for working with the parish. Cabot will now seek approval by the Evangeline Parish School Board which decides on April 21 and the Evangeline Parish Sheriff by the end of the month. The 147 million construction project includes reducing carbon emissions as mandated by the E.P.A. and producing its own source of electricity. The project including the creation of 15 new permanent jobs.