St. Bernard voters pass 15–mill property tax millage increase for Sheriff’s Office by 61-39 percent, or 2,390 to 1,531 votes

John Vickers, left, of the Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff James Pohlmann go over voting returns coming in at the Clerk of Court’s Office after the millage election, as deputies crowd the office awaiting results.

Sheriff Pohlmann, standing at right, applauds with others in the conference room at the Sheriff’s Office as they watch final results from the millage election flash on a television screen.

St. Bernard Parish voters resoundingly approved a 15-mill property tax increase Saturday for operation of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, with it winning approval 61-39 percent, or 2,390 votes to 1,531, including early voting.

“I want to thank the people of this parish,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said after the Clerk of Court announced the 15-mill property tax increase passed.

“We told you we needed an increase to keep up our level of service and maintain the safety of this parish the way you are accustomed to and you responded to our request,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“I think our residents understand the challenges to law enforcement and have a level of confidence that we can keep this parish safe,’’ the sheriff said.

He also told a large contingent of officers who turned out at the Sheriff’s Office and the Clerk of Court’s office to await the results that residents had shown confidence in the Sheriff’s Office.

“We now have more pressure on us to live up to expectations.’’

Money from the tax increase just approved won’t be available until property taxes due by Dec. 31 start coming in.

But the sheriff said he is committed to putting 12 new patrol deputies on the streets as soon as possible to keep up enforcement.

Sheriff Pohlmann had said before the millage election that more money was needed to keep from having to drastically reduce services and staffing

In asking for the new tax, which will bring in around $4.5 million annually for 10 years, the sheriff said he has worked hard to trim the sheriff’s budget since even before taking office last July 1.

Sheriff Pohlmann said he has cut about $2.5 million in spending, including a reduction of 50 employees, but that the office still runs at about a $2 million deficit, primarily because the parish’s tax base hasn’t sufficiently recovered from Hurricane Katrina nearly eight years ago.

Final results including early voting:

38 of 38 precincts	%	Votes
yes	61	2,390
No	39	1,531

In early voting, the measure passed 1,297 votes for to 318 against.