What’s On the Ballot on Saturday, April 9th?

There are a number of propositions and proposals on the ballot this Saturday for Caddo and Bossier Parish voters. The most controversial - and important - of those is the renewal of a number of property taxes that fund Caddo schools.

Here's a look at  the April 9 ballot:

"Shall the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission (the "Commission"), acting under the authority of Article VI, Sections 30 and 32 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, as amended, and Chapter 37 of Title 34 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended (the "Act"), and other constitutional and statutory authority, continue to levy a special tax of two and one-half (2-1/2) mills on all the property subject to taxation in the port area consisting of Caddo and Bossier Parishes (the "Port Area"), (an estimated $6,800,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year) for a period of twenty-five (25) years, commencing with the year 2018, for the purpose of site acquisition and for constructing, acquiring, improving and equipping docks and wharves, transfer and storage facilities, commercial and industrial facilities and other port, transportation and infrastructure facilities and improvements within the Port Area, as more fully described in the Act, title to which shall be in the public, and for paying the Commission's expenses of administering, maintaining, operating and marketing its facilities in the Port Area?"
YES
NO

"PW School District Prop. No. 1 - 20.18 Mills - SB - 10 Yrs. (Select 1)
Shall Parishwide School District of Caddo Parish, Louisiana (the "District"), be authorized to levy a special tax of a twenty and eighteen hundredths (20.18) mills on all property subject to taxation within the District (an estimated $34,314,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2017 and ending with the year 2026, for the purpose of paying salaries and benefits for teachers and other personnel employed by the Caddo Parish School Board?"
YES
NO

"PW School District Prop. No. 2 - 5.15 Mills - SB - 10 Yrs. (Select 1)
Shall Parishwide School District of Caddo Parish, Louisiana (the "District"), be authorized to levy a special tax of five and fifteen hundredths (5.15) mills on all property subject to taxation within the District (an estimated $8,757,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2017 and ending with the year 2026, for the purpose of paying the costs of renovation, repair and improvement of existing public school buildings and facilities in the District?"
YES
NO

"PW School District Prop. No. 3 - 1.25 Mills - SB - 10 Yrs. (Select 1)
Shall Parishwide School District of Caddo Parish, Louisiana (the "District"), be authorized to levy a special tax of one and twenty-five hundredths (1.25) mills on all property subject to taxation within the District (an estimated $2,125,500 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2017 and ending with the year 2026, for the purpose of paying the costs of constructing, acquiring, renovating, improving, maintaining and/or operating computers, software and peripheral equipment, facilities and technological programs at public schools in Caddo Parish?"
YES
NO