La. R.S. § 33:130.155 Fees and Ad Valorem Tax; Borrowing Money

• Library: Louisiana Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current with changes from the 2023 Legislative Session
• Year: 2023
• Citation: La. R.S. § 33:130.155

A. The board of commissioners may, when necessary, levy annually an ad valorem tax not to exceed ten mills on the dollar of assessed valuation of all property, provided that the amount, term, and purpose of said tax, as set out in a proposition submitted to a vote in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code, shall be approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting in a special election held for that purpose.

B. All funds derived under this Section may be used for any expenses or purposes of the district. The board of commissioners shall establish and maintain, in addition to all necessary and normal accounts, the following special accounts:

(1) A revolving loan guarantee fund, to be used to guarantee industrial, port, harbor, or terminal development loans to the extent permitted by the Constitution of Louisiana under the following guidelines:

(a) Loan guarantees shall be made only when adequate financing for the project is unavailable through normal lending channels and the project represents a sound business venture that is financially and economically feasible.

(b) Loan guarantees shall be used to assist an identifiable business concern to finance plant construction, conversion, or expansion and acquisition of land, existing structures, machinery, or equipment and to provide operational funds.

(c) The terms and rates shall be compatible with loans offered by local lending institutions and the guarantee shall never exceed forty percent of the cost of the total project. In addition, the district shall attempt to obtain the most favorable security available under the circumstances to protect and ensure the recovery of its commitment under the guarantee.

(d) Loan guarantees shall be evaluated for their economic impact in terms of the number and types of jobs created or saved, the wage and income levels of the positions, the likelihood of placement of these positions with persons from specific groups, such as the long term unemployed, low income, women, or minorities, and the tax dollars generated.

(e) Loan guarantees shall be made to leverage other sources of private and public capital to attain the greatest economic impact possible with the limited funds available.