The City Council voted to approve the policy and procedure for applications for rebate of Sales And Use Taxes for Natchitoches Economic Development District A And C at its Jan. 25 meeting. Sales/Use tax paid on supplies, materials, furniture, fixtures, machinery and equipment purchased and used on the site may be rebated. There’s 36 businesses in Districts A and C that the tax Commission will notify of the availability of the rebate program. This agenda item will be finalized

An amendment was added to the rebate program to drop the threshold to qualify for the rebate from $10,204 to $5,102. Rebates are retroactive back to when the Tax Commission began collecting the Sales/Use taxes, which was January 2020.

Items must be delivered during the rebate period indicated on the planning/zoning permit report. This rebate program created by the Tax Commission Office does not authorize any District Sales/Use tax exemption on any purchases. Claim for rebate must be submitted to the Tax Commission quarterly.

Jessica Broadway, with Thomas, Broadway, Cunningham and Todtenbier, presented the Council with an 89 page audit report for the City. She said the financial health of the city and its internal controls is doing well. One thing she explained to Council members is that because many roads were overlaid in the city last year, the capital project streets fund was left with a $4.1 million deficit. The finance department is working to pay off this debt with transfers from other funds each year to get this cleared out.

Other agenda items included:

ORDINANCES – FINAL:

Declare Certain Buildings Unsafe And Recommend That Same Be Demolished Or Put Into Repair To Comply With The Building Code, Authorizing Notice To Be Served, Fixing Hearing Date And Appointing Curator To Represent Absentees.

A Second Supplemental Bond Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Ordinance No. 1 of 2015 providing for the incurring of debt and issuance of not to exceed Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000) of Utilities Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2021, of the City of Natchitoches, State of Louisiana; prescribing the form, terms and conditions of said Refunding Bonds, designating the date, denomination and place of payment of said Refunding Bonds, providing for the payment thereof in principal and interest; authorizing the agreement with the Paying Agent; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

Amend The 2020-2021 Budget To Reflect Additional Revenues and Expenditures. Used $100,000 from the General Fund to pay for the storm until reimbursement is received from FEMA (SEE CHART BELOW). City Treasurer Debbie Miley said they should start receiving reimbursements in the next 60-90 days.

ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION:

Approve A ‘Second Amendment To That Lease Entered Into With The United States Government’ For The Lease All Or A Portion Of The Property Located At 607 Trudeau Street/Depot Street And 720 Sixth Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana, And Authorizing The Execution Of The Lease Amendment By The Mayor, Ronnie Williams, Jr., After Due Compliance With The Law, And Further Providing For Advertising Of The Lease Amendment And An Effective Date.

RESOLUTIONS:

Execute An Agreement With The Louisiana Department Of Transportation And Development (LADOTD) For Improvements At The Natchitoches Regional Airport For Obstruction Of Removal Runway 7 Approach – Phase I (Design)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The next scheduled City Council meeting will be Monday, February 8, 2021.

Mayor Williams and the City Council of the City of Natchitoches, will hold the Annual State of the City Address on Monday, February 1, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. The State of the City address will be live-streamed on the Natchitoches Parish Journal.

 

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