THE ZACHA Y
ADVOCATE& T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
|
W e d n e s d ay, S e p t e m b e r 3, 2025
$1.00N
11TH YEAR, NO. 47
Property tax change rejected
Zachary leaders must fill projected $100,000 budget shortfall BY OLIVIA MCCLURE
Contributing writer
Zachary leaders who were banking on bringing in extra cash this year will now have to figure out how to cut roughly $100,000 from the general fund budget after the City Council rejected an ordinance increasing the property tax rate. The 3-2 vote at the council’s Aug. 26 meeting means Zachary’s property tax will stay at 5.07 mills instead of “rolling forward” to 5.48
mills — the maximum the city would be allowed to adopt based on property assessments. The property tax ordinance has been the center of much controversy in the past several weeks. In July, when the item was presented to the council for initial introduction, Councilman John LeBlanc alleged that City Attorney John Hopewell pressured him to vote for the increase, saying he would face political consequences if he didn’t comply.
Hopewell has declined to speak publicly about the accusations. LeBlanc didn’t have much to say at the Aug. 26 meeting. But two of his colleagues, Ambre DeVirgilio and Brandy Westmoreland, shared their reasons for opposing rolling forward the millage. “Just because we can doesn’t mean we should,” DeVirgilio said. Westmoreland said residents are already struggling with inflation. “I see some of this to be a burden on the public and the people that
reside here. I feel that we’ve had other increases, even as recently as our last meeting with recycling that has doubled in price,” she said, referring to the council’s approval of a Waste Management contract that will have residents paying about $4 a month. Westmoreland said the city has been working to attract new businesses, which bring in sales tax revenue. New homes are coming online too, she said, so property tax collections should go up.
“That’s where the money needs to be coming from,” she said. On the other side, Councilman James Graves pointed out that Zachary’s millage has been 5.48 before — and that returning to that rate would simply allow the city to catch up to where it once was. Councilwoman Jennifer Landry noted that her colleagues unanimously approved the budget in May.
ä See BUDGET, page 4G
PHOTOS BY SONYA GOSS
Zachary Broncos honor former teammate Je’Caryous Johnson, who died in May of cancer, by walking his jersey onto the field at the start of the Friday jamboree game.
Broncos honor former teammate
The Zachary Broncos girls varsity basketball 2024-2025 state champions receive their championship rings during Friday’s jamboree at Bronco Stadium.
The Zachary Broncos honored former teammate Jecaryous Johnson, who died in May of cancer, before beating Livonia in a home jamboree. The Broncos walked Johnson’s No. 20 jersey onto the field at the start of the game, which ended with a 21-0 shutout for Zachary. The Zachary Broncos girls varsity basketball 2024-2025 state champions received their championship rings during game festivities.
Try yoga at BREC park Zachary treats moved a day early Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
BREC on the Geaux fitness classes will feature Vibin Yoga at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at Zachary Community Park. Ages 18 and up are welcome. Register at brec.org/calendar/detail/vibin-yoga-zachary.
Business expo coming The Zachary Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Zachary Business
Expo from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Americana YMCA. Food trucks will be available from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Vendors will be on hand to talk about business licensing, insurance, marketing and branding, computers, printing and more.
ä See AROUND, page 4G
because of high school football conflict
BY OLIVIA MCCLURE
up by a day to avoid clashing with a major local event: a Halloween night football game that will see the Zachary High BronIf you live in Zachary, you’ll want to have cos facing their rivals, the Central High your trick-or-treat offerings ready a day Wildcats. early this year. The 4-1 vote to reschedule trick-or-treatThat’s because little ghosts, princesses ing hours came at the council’s Aug. 26 and superheroes will come knocking meeting. Mayor David McDavid and Police Thursday, Oct. 30, instead of Friday, Oct. ä See TREATS, page 4G 31. The City Council moved the festivities
Contributing writer