The views of this Letter to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the view of the LPJ publishing staff.
Dear Editor:
I am deeply concerned about the proposal to consolidate five existing school taxes into a single tax. Supporters call it an administrative change, but the real issue is control—who decides how these tax dollars are spent.
I fully support our newly elected Superintendent, John Young. However, voters must remember that superintendents recommend; School Board members decide. Budget approvals, spending priorities, and policy decisions ultimately rest with the School Board.
My concern is not with Superintendent Young, but with the Board’s track record. Too often, citizens have questioned whether its decisions reflect the best interests of teachers, students, and taxpayers. Teachers deserve competitive pay and classroom support. Students deserve safe schools and quality educational opportunities. Taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability.
Dedicated taxes provide safeguards by ensuring that funds are spent for purposes approved by voters. Consolidating them into a single funding source would give the School Board greater discretion while reducing those safeguards.
This proposal is about more than taxes—it is about trust. Do you want teacher pay-protected by law OR prioritized by leadership? Until we have a School Board that consistently demonstrates sound judgment, transparency, and a commitment to putting students and teachers first, I cannot support this change.
On June 27, I urge voters to vote NO.
Veda Brown Emerson
President, Ruston Voters League
Ruston, Louisiana
