St. George City Incorporation News

[garrett_225]

Land wise it doesn't matter. but most people identify what would be St. George as a part of Baton Rouge Proper. It is an area that has become so embedded with our day-to-day life that it becoming a new city would be a very bad thing.

Of course it is and if it is to become a large city like Huston then it NEEDS St. George.

 

Baton Rouge has been hurting this unincorporated area for decades. Not giving them their fair share of the pie, busing their kids all over creation, ruining their community schools. If St. George can have its own school system, it will keep more of the Metropolitan Area's tax base inside East Baton Rouge Parish. That means shorter commutes, better infrastructure, and more conveniences for current residents, and for companies and residents that might look towards locating in EBR in the future. 

 

As someone else already said, St. George will not have downtown. It will not have LSU or Southern or the lakes. It will not have any of the trendiest neighborhoods such as Spanish Town, the Garden District, Southdowns, Capital Heights, Perkins Road Overpass. It will not have the State Government. Baton Rouge will continue to have the competitive advantage. 

 

I don't see the wealthy tax base that has stayed inside the city all these years suddenly abandoning Jefferson Place, Southdowns, Pollard Estates, the Garden District, etc. to flee into St. George. Private schools are a part of their culture at this point, and its likely to stay that way well into the future.

 

I forsee this push being successful. Those of us in favor of St. George could always turn out to be wrong, but I don't think we will be. Time will tell.

Edited September 20, 2013 by garrett_225

[cajun]

It is an area that has become so embedded with our day-to-day life that it becoming a new city would be a very bad thing.

I don't understand your argument. How is this a very bad thing?

Let's assume that I'm not a vindictive north Baton Rouge moron or a real estate developer in LP or AP. How is St George incorporating a bad thing?

Edited September 20, 2013 by cajun

[dan326]

I think Kip said on the news he didn't support this effort.

[timelordnerd]

I don't understand your argument. How is this a very bad thing?

Let's assume that I'm not a vindictive north Baton Rouge moron or a real estate developer in LP or AP. How is St George incorporating a bad thing?

It would be a bad thing because it would divide the city up.

I think Kip said on the news he didn't support this effort.

Well the people will get what they ant in this case and that's a new city...sigh.

[cajun]

It would be a bad thing because it would divide the city up.

That's not true. No city is being divided up.

St George only involves unincorporated parts of East Baton Rouge that are not part of any city now.

No one is proposing or has even suggested breaking up the city of Baton Rouge. They'd have to voluntarily abandon their own city charter for that to occur.

Edited September 21, 2013 by cajun

[richyb83]

It should be interesting to see WHERE the battle-lines will be drawn for the new proposed boundaries...for example....Essen Lane..will CB&I(formerly Shaw) not be located in Baton Rouge proper? But instead St. George?? Also L'auberge Casino/Hotel could come into play??  

 

Years ago when BR was annexing eastward; always wondered why BR went around the Millerville(area); but included Wedgewood(south of I-12) & north of Florida Blvd all the way to Stevendale Rd....wondered if one day Millerville might become it's own separate little community...but knew it probably wouldn't happen. 

Edited September 21, 2013 by richyb83

[Antrell Williams]

Makes Baton Rouge itself seem much more urban now that the St. George area won't be considered Baton Rouge.

[cajun]

City of St. George petition drive underway to create fifth new city in EBR

 

 

http://theadvocate.com/home/7107014-125/city-of-st-george-petition

 

Residents who for months have been mounting an effort to create a new city in East Baton Rouge Parish took the official first steps this week toward incorporation.

Organizers of the effort selected a name — the city of St. George — giving supporters something to rally behind.

But more significantly, organizers kicked off their petition drive, which likely will be the largest hurdle for those interested in creating the parish’s fifth municipality, behind Baton Rouge, Baker, Zachary and Central.

The plan to incorporate was born this year after the state Legislature for the second time in effect killed a proposed breakaway school district. Actually, the Legislature this year established the school system, but did not approve companion legislation to fund it.

“It troubled legislators that they would be approving an independent school district that was not a city first,” said Norman Browning, an official co-chairman of the St. George incorporation effort.

“Well, we brought that information to the people and the overwhelming response we got was people want a better school system, and if we have to be a city to do that, then that’s what they wanted.”

Browning said volunteers have been lining up to gather signatures for the petition.

“We haven’t even worked that hard to get it out there yet, but it’s been overwhelming,” Browning said. “We have been inundated with phone calls to take petitions and get them signed.”

The other co-chairmen for the incorporation effort are Dustin Yates and Joshua Hoffpauir.

There’s no official deadline for collecting the signatures, but Browning said he’d like to have it done in time to bring it to a vote next year.

In recent months, St. George supporters have been holding meetings for the community and solicited a formal poll, which Browning said shows support for incorporation.

They proposed formal boundaries for the district, which would cover all of the unincorporated part of the parish south of the city of Baton Rouge, including the East Side and St. George Fire Protection districts. The proposed city would cover about 85 square miles in total.ha

 

So far it looks like they are overwhelmed with the amount of support they have so far.   

 

If they actually get the signatures required (1/4 of all registered voters in the district), the governor is compelled by law to allow a special election, where a majority within the district must vote "yes" to incorporate.  

Edited September 22, 2013 by cajun

[cajun]

http://www.stgeorgelouisiana.com/about/faqs

 

The area which would be incorporated as St. George is not in the city of Baton Rouge. It is in an unincorporated area of East Baton Rouge Parish.  The two are not the same.

It is true that we have a city-parish (consolidated) form of government in East Baton Rouge Parish, and it's true that taxes collected in what would become St. George make up a significant portion of East Baton Rouge Parish revenues. That said, St. George would still utilize - and pay for - services offered by the East Baton Rouge Parish government, just like Baker, Zachary and Central do.

 

The services not contracted for with East Baton Rouge Parish will not have to be provided to St. George. That means East Baton Rouge Parish's expenses will be reduced.

Furthermore, St. George will embark upon a pro-growth, pro-private sector agenda. This is the same agenda which is leading to rapid economic expansion in neighboring parishes at the expense of East Baton Rouge Parish. Our pro-growth agenda will bring people back into East Baton Rouge Parish.

 

 

http://www.stgeorgelouisiana.com/about

 

The effort to bring about the city of St. George was born from the effort to create a local independent school district in the southeastern part of East Baton Rouge Parish. The character of the opposition to that effort set in motion a larger discussion among grassroots citizens dissatisfied by the quality of governance from the Powers That Be in East Baton Rouge Parish, the quality of the institutions that the governing elite has created, to particularly include the K-12 educational system, and the disparity in political influence enjoyed by the people of the southern part of the parish. We represent more than two-thirds of the parish's tax base but only about one-third of its expenditures, and the area which will be St. George has never produced a mayor-president of Baton Rouge in modern times. We are simply a group of grass-roots citizens who have decided to take a stand.

 

 

 

 

For more information on the motivation behind the creation of a new city in East Baton Rouge Parish, visit the site provided by richy.

 

If this passes, I wonder how long it will be before every bit of unincorporated land in East Baton Rouge will be within the boundaries of a municipality.   There are reasons to actually vote yes for being annexed by Central and Zachary, and there's a good bit of unincorporated land north of Central that will probably be developed one day. 

Edited September 22, 2013 by cajun

[cajun]

Makes Baton Rouge itself seem much more urban now that the St. George area won't be considered Baton Rouge.

 

Baton Rouge will start to resemble Harris County, TX or Cook County, IL with all the different municipalities and school districts.   They'll be numerous choices for businesses and residents.   

[timelordnerd]

It should be interesting to see WHERE the battle-lines will be drawn for the new proposed boundaries...for example....Essen Lane..will CB&I(formerly Shaw) not be located in Baton Rouge proper? But instead St. George?? Also L'auberge Casino/Hotel could come into play??  

 

Years ago when BR was annexing eastward; always wondered why BR went around the Millerville(area); but included Wedgewood(south of I-12) & north of Florida Blvd all the way to Stevendale Rd....wondered if one day Millerville might become it's own separate little community...but knew it probably wouldn't happen. 

Seems St. George is being a bit hopeful, this is a city map from the BR website:   It appears that this invades a bit on the official city limits.

[cajun]

It appears that this invades a bit on the official city limits.

It doesn't. This does not involve any areas within the official Baton Rouge city limits. Only unincorporated East Baton Rouge....as shown by the map both you and Richy posted, the St George organizers, and multiple media outlets.

Edited September 22, 2013 by cajun

[garrett_225]

Seems St. George is being a bit hopeful, this is a city map from the BR website:   It appears that this invades a bit on the official city limits.

 

I'm not seeing where. Perhaps you can point out the specific location(s) where the dividing lines don't match up?

[dan326]

I guess it wouldn't be so bad. I wanna see the other name options though.

[Antrell Williams]

The Advocate had the names in a previous article, however, I cannot find it.

[cajun]

I guess it wouldn't be so bad. I wanna see the other name options though.

I think Shenandoah and Highland were two of them. I don't remember all of them.

Since it centers around the St George fire district, which itself has some historical significance behind its name, they went with St George.

Edited September 22, 2013 by cajun

[timelordnerd]

I'm not seeing where. Perhaps you can point out the specific location(s) where the dividing lines don't match up?

It's in the small divide between what would be St. George and the two sides of Baton Rouge Proper. 

[Antrell Williams]

It's in the small divide between what would be St. George and the two sides of Baton Rouge Proper. 

Sounds like the entire map.

[cajun]

It's in the small divide between what would be St. George and the two sides of Baton Rouge Proper.

I don't see it. Looks like the limit matches the one posted from the St George site.

What is the nearest intersection?

If the people there are paying city taxes, they are in Baton Rouge and won't be in St George.

Edited September 24, 2013 by cajun

[timelordnerd]

To me this looks like the most realistic compromise that the cities will make.   

[Antrell Williams]

Central and Zachary will never dissolve themselves.

[all2neat]

Central and Zachary will never dissolve themselves.

Exactly. They incorporated for very similar reasons.

[cajun]

To me this looks like the most realistic compromise that the cities will make.

In your map, Baton Rouge has absorbed Baker, Zachary, and Central? Those are soverign cities with their own government and school district.

Is this fictional, hypothetical map the basis of your concern that St George is including too much on their posted maps?

There is no compromise to make. What is within the Baton Rouge limits are Baton Rouge. What is not is free to incorporate on their own. This process does not require input from neighboring cities. The voters in the district will vote yes or no after the governor "okays" a special election, which will only occur if St George has collected enough signatures.

The new city of St George only involves unincorporated parts of East Baton Rouge, as their real map indicates. Their right to exist or not is completely unrelated to Baton Rouge as they are not within Baton Rouge. Zachary, Central, and St George have just a much of a right to exist as Baton Rouge. If they want a city, they'll support one. If not, then they'll have that right as well.

Edited September 24, 2013 by cajun

[buckett5425]

I don't have a concrete opinion on whether or not this is a positive or negative initiative, but I do feel that this entire process is divisive regardless of the outcome.

 

I supposed it never bothered me that Baker, Central, and Zachary incorporated, because they were already so far removed from Baton Rouge and it was always their intent to flee to the suburbs and leave Baton Rouge. But to me, the residents of south baton rouge never fled the city proper, they simply chose to live in a growing area of the "city" that met their demographic needs, socially and economically. I believe that the majority of the people living on Seigen, Coursey, Highland, still feel like Baton Rouge residents. So to split off from the rest of the city because they are more economically diverse and politically active almost seems vindictive instead of a real solution for solving the issues of our city. 

 

That being said, I hope residents in that area, and the entire city, find means to increase the quality of education for their children.

 

Personally, I am not looking forward to dealing with ANOTHER permitting office and having to educate clients about which city their piece of property is located and the different codes that will be applicable. It would be miserable, it's hard enough getting the different fire districts to cooperate when applying for a permit, haha. 

[cajun]

So to split off from the rest of the city because they are more economically diverse and politically active almost seems vindictive instead of a real solution for solving the issues of our city.

I agree with your post completely except for the highlighted part.

Those people have been screwed to tears over the years by Baton Rouge interests over control of public schools. This isn't about being economically diverse. It's about public schools. The EBR board has proven unreasonable, and has used the closure of Lee high and the Baton Rouge magnet school as leverage over St George (Woodlawn). It's disgusting, but it's obvious to everyone that they are after control and not academic excellence. I sincerely hope that if this happens, the students in the remaining EBR district finds alternative sources for education in charters or vouchers. Access to decent public schools is a civil right that everyone should enjoy regardless of where they live or what a special interest demands from taxpayers.

No one is vindictive in demanding adequate publc service and displaying a willingness to pay for it. They are looking after their own needs...which is necessary because EBR school board clearly won't. They tried twice to get this done without incorporating, but were blocked by the legislature twice. St George (and one legislator from Central) have done everything they could to solve these problems without incorporation. They are out of options.

So now they have to setup their own city.

They aren't part of Baton Rouge now but I'm sure they identify with the city. They are not separating from Baton Rouge out of sour grapes over city leadership. This is about schools. If being annexed by Baton Rouge would give them better schools, they'd support it. Remember, they've tried to do this twice now without incorporating- leaving themselves open to future annexation. Legislators from north Baton Rouge blocked it twice.

No one in St George would voluntarily add another layer of taxation if they could have gotten their own schools without it....but this is how it has to be. This is how Baton Rouge legislators wanted it.

On the bright side....I don't think the impact on the city of Baton Rouge will be all that bad. Initially they'll get less parish support from the St George district, but having a viable area with a growing tax base in EBR is a good thing for them long term.

Either way....this is how it has to be. Holden I'm sure doesn't like it...but there's nothing he could have done to stop it as a mayor. As closed off as the school board is to any decent ideas from the public, they are even less open to outside influence from a mayor or council. It's a shame. I've always said that public education is critical for the long term success of a city.....the merged metro government sort of makes the entire parish one large city.

No one should interpret this as a judgement of how the city of Baton Rouge or the parish is run. Holden's done well and had tremendous support from St George in his elections. He probabiy has their support for Lt Gov. Baton Rouge is on an upswing. People are just tired of the middle class residential demand being almost completely driven by LP and AP. They are tired of generating 2/3rds of the tax base but being strong armed and stone walled in the school board office. The powers that be are tired that Baton Rouge gets passed over for major private investment because of public school problems.

Edited September 24, 2013 by cajun