CCN 07-14-11

Page 1

CENTRAL CITY

NEWS General Excellence Louisiana Press Association National Newspaper Assn.

& The Leader

®

Central’s Guide to

Health & Fitness Coming July 28 • Call 261-5055 to Advertise

Thursday, July 14, 2011 • Vol. 14, No. 13 • 16 Pages • Circulation 11,000 • centralcitynews.us • ‘Like’ Central City News on Facebook

Sales Tax to 10¼%? Central Would Have Highest Sales Tax in Nation

School Board Supports Pay For Members

Kip Holden Plan: Raise Central Tax From 9½ to 10¼%

Woody Jenkins

Editor, Central City News

Photo by Woody Jenkins

CENTRAL — The Central Community School Board voted Monday to spend $64,000 out of its $30 million-a-year annual budget to provide each of the seven school board members with a $7,800-a-year expense allowance. However, two board members immediately gave notice that they would not accept the allowance, and a third board member said he would donate the money to the new Central Education Foundation for scholarRoxanne Atkinson ships for Central students. Out of the 70 school boards in Louisiana, Central was the only one that did not provide either a per diem or an expense allow-

NEW CITY SERVICES CONTRACTOR — IBTS began providing all city services in the City of Central July 1 from 6703 Sullivan Rd. Shown at grand opening ceremonies are Dr. Shyam Choudhary, CFO of IBTS, and David Ratcliff, program manager for Central. See Page 3.

Drug Testing to Resume At Central High School

CENTRAL — The Central Community School System will resume the use of hair samples to test for drug usage among students at Central High School. Students involved in extracurricular activities, such as

See CENTRAL on Page 4

competitive sports, or who drive to school will be tested. The school system began using hair samples to test for drugs last year, and several students were See FAULK on Page 7

CENTRAL — If Mayor-President Kip Holden has his way, the sales tax rate in Central will increase from the current rate of 9.5 percent to 10.25 percent next year. That would give the City of Central the highest sales tax rate in the U.S. Kip Holden Chicago previously had the highest sales tax rate at 10.25, but that was reduced to 9.75 on July 1, 2010. On Tuesday, Holden said he will ask voters to approve three tax increases this fall: • 1/4-cent sales tax and .75-mill property tax for infrastructure • 1/4-cent sales tax and 2.15-mill property tax for public safety • 1/4-cent sales tax and .25-mill See HIGHEST on Page 15

Join Central City News on

Get Latest News Updates

Young Central Team Will Have Talent, Depth

Wildcat Fans Have Reason for Optimism Catholic Bears To Depart from Central District

Woody Jenkins

Editor, Central City News

Photo by Woody Jenkins

CENTRAL — Championships are won on Friday nights — not on paper. Nevertheless, on paper at least, the 2011 Central Wildcat team looks like one of finest ever. The key will be whether they live up to their potential. This will be a team that is young yet talented and deep — a team seeking its 4th straight District Championship and a State Title. See IT’S BACK on Page 13

ISTROUMA GREATS ­— High school stars from 50 years ago. Four members of the Istrouma High School State Championship team of 1962 gathered during the North Baton Rouge Reunion last week. Shown are Jim Dousey, Charlie Rush, Benny Griffin, and Mike Hooper.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.