The Louisiana State Bond Commission approved election applications for the following parishes: East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Lafayette, Madison, Orleans and St. Landry (City of Opelousas). The State Bond Commission approval, which is not an endorsement of any application, is required before the Secretary of State’s office can place certain propositions on the ballot.
At the meeting, the State Bond Commission also approved funding for a variety of important projects across the state.
Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, M.D., Chairman of the Louisiana State Bond Commission, said, “Our Treasury Department thoroughly examines every election application and every funding request to ensure it meets the technical requirements and safeguards taxpayer funds. I am proud of our department’s dedication and commitment to serving the people of Louisiana.”
Here are some of the individual projects approved by the State Bond Commission:
- Avoyelles Parish, City of Marksville: $400,000 Limited Tax Bonds for capital improvements, including relocation of water lines.
- Lafayette Parish, City of Lafayette: $45,000,000 Refunding Bonds to refinance debt, resulting in gross savings of approximately $1.8 million.
- Louisiana Community Development Authority (St. Bernard Parish GOMESA Project): $9,000,000 Revenue Bonds for funding qualified projects permitted under the provisions of GOMESA.
- Louisiana Housing Corporation: $125,000,000 Single Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds (Volume Cap) to finance first mortgage loans for homebuyers or finance qualified home improvement loans and qualified rehabilitation loans.
- Louisiana Public Facilities Authority (South Quad IV Project): Notice of intention to issue $215,000,000 Revenue Bonds for planning, design, acquisition, development, construction, furnishing and equipping of student housing facilities consisting of 1,100 beds, together with all buildings, improvements, fixtures, furnishings, equipment and associated site infrastructure and amenities, planning, design, acquisition, development and construction of certain parking and transportation facilities and other facilities infrastructure, or construction activities, planning, design and development costs associated with future phases of the ongoing plan for student housing and related student support facilities.
- Sabine Parish School Board, Sales Tax District No. 2: $240,000 Sales Tax Bonds for constructing, improving and maintaining public school buildings and facilities, including acquiring equipment and furnishings.
- Terrebonne Parish, Houma-Terrebonne Airport Commission: $6,000,000 Revenue Bonds for constructing and acquiring improvements, extensions and replacements including, but not limited to, hangars, terminal facility, appurtenant equipment, accessories, and additions to such facilities.
The State Bond Commission receives applications from parishes, municipalities, special taxing districts, and other political subdivisions of the State requesting authority to incur debt or levy taxes. State Bond Commission approval is required before any public entity can borrow money or issue bonds. Money for projects is borrowed from banks or other investors and is paid back. These applications are reviewed for compliance with state constitutional and statutory requirements and feasibility, including the ability to repay any indebtedness incurred.
For FY 2025, the State Bond Commission issued $351.4 million General Obligation bonds to fund capital projects and $982.17 million in various bonds to refinance outstanding bonds providing the State with $116.8 million in savings through 2044 and has approved 193 debt applications totaling $7.09 billion and 220 local government elections.
State Treasurer Fleming attributed these achievements to “our team of committed professionals who work tirelessly to serve the taxpayers of Louisiana.”