Could Deannexation Happen in Shreveport? Councilman Boucher Weighs In

As Baton Rouge reels from layoffs tied to the deannexation of St. George, the conversation has turned closer to home, could something similar happen in Shreveport?

Specifically, could the Ellerbe Road and Southern Hills area ever break away from the city? Councilman Grayson Boucher doesn’t think so, but he understands why residents are asking.

The Question of De-annexation in Shreveport

The topic gained attention after Baton Rouge lost millions in tax revenue when St. George became its own city, forcing major budget cuts. For Shreveport, Boucher says, that scenario simply doesn’t apply. “First off, it’ll never happen,” he said. “Even though, in my mind, it’s not a bad idea, there are just too many legal and financial barriers.”

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Boucher explains there are only two ways the process could happen: through a vote of the entire city or a city council decision. “A citywide vote might sound simple, but once people realize how much money Southeast Shreveport brings in, they’d never go for it,” he said. “We’re a revenue cow down here, we bring in a large part of the property and sales tax base.”

Why It Matters to All of Shreveport

The Ellerbe Road area and neighborhoods south of Pierremont and Youree Drive represent some of the city’s strongest economic zones. Their departure would leave a significant hole in Shreveport’s budget. “If that part of town left, the city would feel it immediately,” Boucher said. “We’d lose the very areas that are keeping our finances steady.”

At the same time, Boucher acknowledges the frustrations of residents who feel they’re paying city taxes without seeing adequate return on services. Roads, drainage, and infrastructure maintenance remain ongoing challenges.

“We’ve got more road miles than Detroit,” he said. “And many of those are aging fast. Developers install new roads and turn them over to the city, which eventually becomes our problem to maintain.”

Shreveport is in Need of Forward Planning

Boucher cautioned against assuming Shreveport’s current stability means the city is financially healthy. “Yes, we’re making payroll,” he said. “But we’ve got a huge consent decree, water issues, and a need for garbage trucks and infrastructure updates. If we don’t start planning ahead, we’ll end up like those other cities.”

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He’s also quick to remind residents that being proactive sometimes means floating unpopular ideas. “If we don’t start talking about solutions, we’ll stagnate,” he said. “We’ve got to be willing to step out there, even when it’s uncomfortable.”

The Bottom Line for Shreveport

While deannexation isn’t likely to happen, Boucher sees the discussion as a warning sign. “We can’t keep doing things the same way,” he said. “If we don’t address our infrastructure, revenue, and long-term planning now, we’ll eventually face the same financial troubles other cities are dealing with.”