Top 10 stories of 2023: Voters approve LC Rebound to reshape city
Published 12:57 pm Saturday, December 30, 2023
Lake Charles voters approved two tax proposals in November that will modernize the city’s tax structure and open it up to $190 million in infrastructure and quality-of-life projects to be completed over the next 12 years.
The passage of the LC Rebound proposals will convert the old tax system – which Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter has referred to as antiquated and cumbersome – into a modern, streamlined system that allows for the easier borrowing of funds and makes the projects included in the tax-neutral bond proposal attainable.
Hunter said the total cost for all the proposed projects is $190 million, with the city’s contribution being $143 million. He said the city would utilize $12 million in existing budgeted funds and $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funds and would borrow an additional $130 million.
Hunter said the city can now afford its $143 million part of the deal without increasing taxes because a $90 million bond proposition approved by voters after Hurricane Rita will be paid off in two years, opening capacity for LC Rebound projects. That bond ultimately funded the Enterprise Boulevard and East McNeese Street extensions, enhancements at Bord du Lac, the construction of the SEED Center and downtown marina, and the downtown Ryan Street streetscapes enhancements.
With the passage of Lake Charles Rebound, beautifications — and, in some cases, road widening — are now planned for Prien Lake Road, La. 14, Sen. J. Bennett Johnson, Enterprise Boulevard, 5th Avenue, Louisiana Avenue, West Sallier, 12th Street, Country Club Road and West Sale Road. Improving blighted properties along Interstate 10 and adding smart traffic signals citywide is also included in the plans. Some of the recreation projects included in LC Rebound are a “One Lake Charles” eight-mile bike trail from Riverside Park to Prien Lake Park, Millennium Park and Lakefront Amphitheater upgrades, a linked speaker system around the lakefront and the Lake Charles Event Center grounds, and upgrades to Lock, JD Clifton, Riverside, Veterans Memorial, Huber, Buddy Prejean, Mary Belle Williams and Weaver parks.
Hunter said two additional youth centers, enhancements to the Region 5 STEM Center, a flight school at Sowela, and a dormitory for the homeless that will be hosted in partnership with the Salvation Army are also included in LC Rebound.
He said over the next decade, LC Rebound will support more than 1,500 jobs and exceed $6 million in local tax receipts.
“Businesses locate in communities with high quality of life to attract and retain talented employees while employees want to live in aesthetically pleasing areas,” he said. “Studies have shown people are more productive when they are working in visually pleasing environments where they are more likely to be happy, healthy and engaged in their work.”
