Sponsored by East Baton Rouge Parish School System

On May 3, East Baton Rouge Parish voters will decide on five important tax renewal propositions that directly impact the stability of local public schools. These measures help fund teacher salaries, classroom instruction, safe learning environments and student wellness programs — key elements that support both academic achievement and day-to-day operations across the district.

These are not new taxes. Rather, they are renewals of existing property tax millages. If approved, the renewals would generate approximately $96.6 million every year for 10 years – funds that are essential to keeping schools running effectively and providing the resources students need to succeed.

“This is about preserving the services and supports we already have in place,” says Kelly Lopez, chief financial officer for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. “These millages have been responsibly managed for years and are a key part of maintaining educational stability for our students and staff.”

Superintendent LaMont Cole emphasized the long-term impact these renewals will have on the district’s future: “These tax renewals represent an investment in the promise and potential of every student in East Baton Rouge Parish. By voting, we’re telling our students and educators we believe in strong schools, inspired teachers and a brighter future for our entire community.”

One of the propositions up for renewal supports the I CARE Program, which has served local students and families since 1982. I CARE is the school system’s comprehensive initiative for substance abuse prevention, violence reduction and emotional wellness. With 20 specialists serving every public school in the parish each week, the program provides individual and group sessions, responds to crises and helps students develop the coping skills they need to thrive both academically and emotionally.

As adolescent overdose deaths linked to fentanyl continue to rise nationally, I CARE’s mission is more urgent than ever. Renewing I CARE’s dedicated millage ensures that these services will continue uninterrupted for another decade. “To be academically successful, you have to be well,” says I CARE Director Erin Pourciau-Bradford. “That’s what we’re here to support.”

Lopez notes that the five tax property millages will expire in December 2026, December 2027 and December 2028. “The millages expire at different times between 2026 and 2028 but putting them all on the May 3 ballot now ensures we don’t face funding gaps in the future,” she says. “If passed, we won’t have to come back to voters again for 10 years.”

How You Can Make a Difference:

1. Mark your calendar for May 3
2. Verify your voter registration
3. Research the propositions
4. Vote at your local polling location

To learn more about what’s on the ballot, visit the school system’s board docs or speak with local school administrators. “Every vote counts,” Lopez says.

To learn more about the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, visit ebrschools.org. More information about the I CARE Program can be found at icare.ebrschools.org.