Diners and overnight guests at Ruston hotels will be paying an extra 1.75% tax on their bills come the New Year, thanks to a 3 to 2 affirmative vote at last night’s meeting of the Ruston City Council.
Voting for the new tax were Carolyn Cage, Ward 1; Angela Mayfield, Ward 2; and Jedd Lewis, Ward 3. Voting no were Jim Pearce, Ward 4; and Bruce Siegmund, Ward 5.
Proceeds from the tax will be used to underwrite debt to construct a water park, gymnasiums, and a VA/Senior Center adjacent to the sports complex now under construction in South Ruston.
Estimated costs are about $10 million, according to Mayor Ronny Walker.
At least a dozen and a half supporters showed up to speak in favor of the tax, including representatives of the Ruston/Lincoln Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Ruston/Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.
The CVB’s Travis Napper read from a resolution from the bureau’s directors, and said that the decision was an easy one for the board.
The CoC’s Lee Denny said, “The board of directors of the Ruston/Lincoln Chamber of Commerce voted to endorse this recommendation of increasing our sales tax on local hotels and restaurants for the Lincoln Parish area. We see the great benefit it provides.”
Several youngsters voiced support for the basketball courts and a volleyball program.
Micheal Gahagan, owner of Country Inn & Suites said, “Nobody wants to have a higher tax, but when the reward is so great, I can tell you from experience, we’re in favor.”
Tisha McConnell said the kids needed a place to hang out. “The kids, they hang out at WalMart, and they don’t have anywhere to go. I’m in favor of it.”
Only one person spoke in opposition, Lou Taylor, who had spoken at the November 5 meeting.
During the council discussion, the two members that voted no (Pierce & Siegmund) also repeated their arguments from earlier meetings.
Pierce said he opposed taxes without a vote of the people, while Siegmund said we needed to finish Phase I of the sports complex before launching into more construction.
Carolyn Cage, one of the three yes votes, said the comments from the visitors made her decision much easier.
Lincoln Parish News Online 
11/30/2018 at 1:38 pm |
FLASH—-Other governmental bodies had better hurry to get a piece of the TAX PIE. Soon it may be all gone. Call Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau they will endorse!
11/30/2018 at 3:59 pm |
The only kids hanging out at Walmart with no place to go would be kids up to no good. My kids aren’t going to hang out at the sports complex either. Or the ” water park” Its on the wrong side of town. It’s on the high crime side.
11/30/2018 at 4:46 pm |
Will water park be built to same specs as the so called ice skating rink?
Will the gyms be rented out to create revenue for city? The cost for renting civic center is too high for what you get. Badly in need of updating. The kitchen is nasty. The ceiling tiles are moldy.
Will the seniors and vfw share space? How much money will they have to put up to use the space?
11/30/2018 at 5:49 pm |
Specs of ice rink. Now that’s funny. What specs? It’s a portable plastic fake dirty thing. They can’t even afford good skates. They bought cheap ones that real skaters laugh at. Hickdom at its finest. Let’s pretend we are northerners . Only the rink is already tacky. Won’t last another year. City money well spent?
11/30/2018 at 6:21 pm |
I’m sure some of mayor’s high dollar assistants not familiar with rinks helped choose the rink and all the assessories. City employees gave the arduous task of assembling each year. Wonder how much money it generates?
11/30/2018 at 9:22 pm |
Tommy wright, went down to get some coffee at Jefferson’s corner this morning trying to find out some info on Shadoin and Bruce almighty Hampton. Huddle house too. All I heard was a bunch of belly achin over that tax the mayor got passed. This used to be such a nice neighborhood…..
11/30/2018 at 10:00 pm |
Too late to be bellyaching. Should have bellyached to your alderman. Now it is too late. And guess what, there will be another tax issue in the not too distant future. City barely can pay the salaries now. There will be more layoffs.
11/30/2018 at 10:09 pm |
I’m a slow country boy, I don’t really know how all these taxes work. But I do understand that if you folks didn’t like the tax you shoulda showed up and told those elected officials. I see that didn’t happen, according to this fine publication forum were commenting on.
11/30/2018 at 9:40 pm |
MAYBE——Tommy Wright should keep his A— out of the coffee shop at Jefferson Corner and The Huddle House. Might be a striking improvement!
11/30/2018 at 9:46 pm |
Dang son you don’t read too good. I was just lettin tommy know what’s going on around Ruston. I think he may be new to the area and needed to know about the goings on.
11/30/2018 at 9:58 pm |
Maybe I’ll try Waffle House in the morning, hopefully will find a friendlier crowd. I’m gonna buy mayor walker a cup of coffee if I see him there.
11/30/2018 at 10:15 pm |
He drinks other stuff
11/30/2018 at 10:21 pm |
Like what? I’ll buy him a hot chocolate if he don’t like coffee.
11/30/2018 at 10:16 pm |
Who in hell is Tommy Wright??
11/30/2018 at 10:23 pm |
Good friend of mine. Sniffs out political corruption and exposes it when it’s around. Check out his Facebook page. Went to northwestern U. Fine school, not as fine as LA tech tho.
11/30/2018 at 10:46 pm |
Maybe he could start at Ruston City Hall. Second floor, follow the money.
11/30/2018 at 10:54 pm |
Why you say that? There’s corruption going on?
11/30/2018 at 11:09 pm |
Totally .
11/30/2018 at 11:16 pm |
Who are you? Why all the anonymous stuff? Where’s Jefferson’s Corner? I go by the huddle house ever once in a blue moon.
12/03/2018 at 12:54 pm |
Afraid walker will retaliate. Employees are scared for their jobs
11/30/2018 at 11:09 pm |
No that’s a different one
11/30/2018 at 11:12 pm |
Tell me about the corruption. People over that way don’t seem to care about Bruce Almighty screwing over a WWII vet.
12/01/2018 at 11:20 am |
Honestly have nit heard about it.
12/01/2018 at 1:14 pm |
Somebody needs to be digging into what’s going on at city hall.
12/02/2018 at 4:07 pm |
Look into the corruption? Or the lifestyle of yalls mayor?
12/02/2018 at 5:18 pm |
Both . They go together.
12/02/2018 at 8:16 pm |
They have been juggling budgeted money from one account to the other w/o proper approval since taking office. Has terminated key people, named new auditors. (People who did ask questions that would incriminate him were terminated or forced to retire). As for his personal life, not much can be done about that, but it does cast a bad image on the city. Lots of rumors and gossip whirling around town. A man should run his household as well as the office of mayor with honesty and integrity. God will ultimately be the judge.
12/02/2018 at 9:20 pm |
Wish his most recent ex wife would tell all
12/03/2018 at 12:43 pm |
She’s too classy for that.
12/02/2018 at 9:37 pm |
She needs to defend herself against what he is putting out there about her.
12/02/2018 at 10:25 pm |
But she wasn’t the one in the wrong .
12/03/2018 at 10:29 am |
What is she defending herself against?
12/02/2018 at 10:35 pm |
That’s not what he is saying per his receptionist.
12/03/2018 at 7:57 am |
Does his receptionist gab? Maybe he will get rid of her next. Because news around town is saying Walker messed up.
12/03/2018 at 10:48 am |
Walker has screwed over all of his wives.
12/03/2018 at 8:18 am |
Seems to have set a pattern over the years.
12/03/2018 at 8:56 am |
Gabs to anyone who will listen.
12/03/2018 at 9:03 am |
The older woman?
12/03/2018 at 12:22 pm |
Yes
12/03/2018 at 11:32 am |
Too old
12/03/2018 at 11:33 am |
Nit too old to talk, haha
12/11/2018 at 4:54 pm |
Heard from Ns Gabby that city has hired a controller? Seems there are some connections to present administration?
12/12/2018 at 3:41 pm |
What kind of connections?