Funding and construction in those instances is dependent upon those areas being annexed into the city of Lafayette, said Pat Logan, associate public works director.
"It's a 10-year program, so it's likely a lot of that would be annexed in the normal course" of time, Logan said. "However, if this passes, that may be greater incentive to seek annexation."City-Parish President Joey Durel has asked the City-Parish Council to call a Nov. 7 election in the city of Lafayette. At its meeting Tuesday, the council is expected to consider accepting the engineering and economic feasibility report that lists road and drainage projects in line for construction using the sales tax revenue. Acceptance of the feasibility report Tuesday will not necessarily mean the council agrees with it or that they will call the election.
"It's not perfect, but it's pretty good," Council Chairman Rob Stevenson said of the feasibility report. "We want to make sure that we move traffic before we look at economic development." A project that "desperately needs to be done now" is the widening of Kaliste Saloom Road, Stevenson said.
The council has until Sept. 5 to vote to place the sales tax on the Nov. 7 ballot. If the council calls the election, only voters in the city will decide whether to add a one-cent sales tax to purchases in the city to be used on roads, traffic and drainage projects primarily inside the city.
Most of the projects are in the city. But some roads made the list because they are near the city of Lafayette and contiguous to the city, such as E. Broussard Road, Logan said. In cases where most of a road is in the city and pieces are not, the city tax can be used, he said.
The city also can spend city sales tax revenue on roads outside the city if they can show traffic is influenced by the city and the road aids the city, said Traffic and Transportation Director Tony Tramel.
A portion of Louisiana Avenue from Maryview Farm Road to Gloria Switch Road, which is ready for construction and awaiting funding, is outside the city, Logan said. But "it serves a city function" by providing access to city residents in Nottingham and Victoria Village, he said.
Stevenson said he does not believe voters in the city of Lafayette would support a parishwide sales tax because they would pay most of money for roads to be built outside the city.
"I can't see anyone voting for it. I know I wouldn't," he said.
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