§1501.  Maintenance tax; submission to vote at certain election; additional tax

A.(1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the governing authority of a fire protection district may submit to the electors of the district a proposition to levy ad valorem taxes for any of the following purposes: acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining or operating fire protection or emergency medical service facilities, vehicles, and equipment, including both movable and immovable property, that are to be used by the district directly or indirectly to provide fire protection or emergency medical service, as defined in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection.  The specific purposes of any such tax, as well as the rate and duration of the tax, shall be as determined by the governing authority of the district and specified in the proposition.  Any facilities, vehicles, and equipment, whether movable or immovable, that are used directly or indirectly to provide fire protection or emergency medical service shall be deemed to be works of public improvement within the meaning of Article VI, Section 32 of the Constitution of Louisiana.  The cost of maintaining or operating facilities, vehicles, and equipment shall include, without limitation, salaries and benefits of fire district personnel, the cost of obtaining water, communication, equipment, uniforms and other materials and supplies, the cost of fire hydrant rentals and service, the cost of fuel, insurance and maintenance for vehicles and equipment, the cost of insurance, utilities, upkeep of buildings and grounds, and all other maintenance and operating costs necessary to carry out the public purposes for which fire protection districts are created.

(2)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the fire protection district may provide emergency medical service itself.  Any district which provides such service shall have all authority granted to ambulance service districts by R.S. 33:9053 et seq. and any other provision of law.

(3)  For purposes of this Subsection "emergency medical service" shall mean emergency medical services provided by fire protection districts.

(4)  The Legislature of Louisiana recognizes that providing fire protection and emergency medical service by fire protection districts is a governmental purpose essential to the public health, safety and protection of citizens and property in the state.  Accordingly, the provisions of this Section shall be construed liberally in order to allow fire protection districts the broadest discretion in determining the appropriate uses for their funds subject to any express constitutional limitations.

B.  Whenever the governing body of the parish in which the state capitol is situated calls an election for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the district the question of levying a special tax or for such purpose it may call a special election on the question of the levy of an additional five mills on the dollar of assessed valuation for a period of not to exceed ten years, in excess of and in addition to the tax authorized in the foregoing Subsection, for the purpose of maintaining and operating the district's fire protection facilities and paying the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes and more particularly for salaries of firemen.  Whenever the governing authority of Tangipahoa Fire Protection District No. 1 calls an election for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the district the question of levying a special tax or for such purpose, it may call a special election on the question of the levy of an additional five mills on the dollar of assessed valuation for a period of not to exceed ten years, in excess of and in addition to the tax authorized in the foregoing paragraph, for the purpose of purchasing fire protection equipment, maintaining and operating the district's fire protection facilities and equipment, paying the cost of water, and for salaries of firemen.  An election on the question of a levy of the additional tax as herein provided shall be in accordance with and subject to the requirements provided for in the foregoing Subsection.

C.(1)  The governing authority of the Ouachita Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 may call an election for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the district the question of levying an additional tax of twenty mills on the dollar of assessed valuation for a period not to exceed ten years.

(2)  This tax shall be in addition to the tax authorized in Subsection A of this Section and shall be for the purpose of purchasing fire protection equipment, maintaining and operating the district's fire protection facilities and equipment, paying the cost of water, and for salaries of firemen.

(3)  An election on the question of a levy of the additional tax as herein provided shall be in accordance with and subject to the requirements provided for in Subsection A of this Section.

D.(1)  The governing authority of Fire Protection District Number One of Caddo Parish may call an election for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the district the question of levying an additional tax of ten mills on the dollar of assessed valuation for a period not to exceed ten years; if the question of levying such tax is approved by a majority of the electors of the district voting in that election, said governing authority may levy such tax by majority vote of its members.  Such tax shall be in addition to the tax authorized in Subsection A of this Section and shall be for the purpose of purchasing fire protection equipment, maintaining, and operating the fire protection facilities and equipment of the district, paying the cost of water, and for salaries of firemen.  An election on the question of a levy of the additional tax as herein provided shall be in accordance with and subject to the requirements of Subsection A of this Section.

(2)  The governing authority of Fire Protection District No. 3 of Caddo Parish may call an election for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the district the question of levying an additional tax of ten mills on the dollar of assessed valuation for a period not to exceed ten years; if the question of levying such tax is approved by a majority of the electors of the district voting in that election, said governing authority may levy such tax by majority vote of its members.  Such tax shall be in addition to the tax authorized in Subsection A of this Section and shall be for the purpose of maintaining and operating the fire protection district.  An election on the question of the levy of the additional tax as herein provided shall be in accordance with and subject to the requirements of Subsection A of this Section.  The avails of such tax may also be used for emergency medical transportation and emergency services of the district.

(3)  The governing authority of District 6 Fire Protection District of East Baton Rouge Parish may call an election for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the district the question of levying an additional tax not to exceed twenty-five mills on the dollar of assessed valuation for a period not to exceed ten years; if the question of levying such tax is approved by the electors of the district voting in that election, said governing authority may levy such tax by majority vote of  its members.  Such tax shall be in addition to the tax authorized in Subsection A of this Section and shall be for the purpose of purchasing fire protection trucks and equipment, maintaining, and operating the fire protection facilities, paying the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes, including charges for fire hydrant rentals, and for personnel salaries.  An election on the question of a levy of the additional tax as herein provided shall be in accordance with and subject to the requirements of Subsection A of this Section.

E.(1)  In addition to the tax provided for in Subsection A of this Section, the board of commissioners of Fire Protection District No. 1, St. Tammany Parish is hereby authorized to levy an additional tax not to exceed thirty-five mills on the dollar of assessed valuation for a period not to exceed ten years if the question of levying such tax is approved by the electors of the district voting in an election called for that purpose.  The purpose of the additional tax shall be to maintain and operate the district's fire protection facilities, to purchase fire trucks and other fire fighting equipment, and to pay the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes, including hydrant rentals and service.

(2)  In addition to the tax provided for in Subsection A of this Section, the board of commissioners for Caddo Parish Fire Protection District No. Six is hereby authorized to levy an additional tax not to exceed ten mills on the dollar of assessed valuation for a period not to exceed ten years if the question of levying such tax is approved by the electors of the district voting in an election called for that purpose.  The purpose of the additional tax shall be to maintain and operate the district's fire protection facilities, to purchase fire trucks and other fire fighting equipment, and to pay the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes, including hydrant rentals and service.

(3)  In addition to the tax provided for in Subsection A of this Section, the governing authority of any fire district whose boundaries are wholly within the boundaries of Jefferson Parish is hereby authorized to levy an additional tax not to exceed twenty-five mills on the dollar of assessed valuation for a period not to exceed ten years if the question of levying such tax is approved by the electors of the district voting in an election called for that purpose.  The purpose of the additional tax shall be to maintain and operate the fire protection facilities, including operating expenses and capital improvements of those facilities.

(4)  In addition to the tax provided for in Subsection A of this Section and for the purposes provided therein, the governing authorities of Fire Protection District No. 4-A of Terrebonne Parish, Fire Protection District No. 5 of Terrebonne Parish, Fire Protection District No. 6 of Terrebonne Parish, Fire Protection District No. 9 of Terrebonne Parish, Fire Protection District No. 10 of Terrebonne Parish, and Village East Fire Protection District of Terrebonne Parish, respectively, are hereby authorized to levy an additional tax, not to exceed five mills on the dollar of assessed valuation and for a period not to exceed ten years, if the question of levying such tax is approved by a majority of the electors of the district voting in an election called for that purpose.

(5)  In addition to the tax provided for in Subsection A of this Section and for the purposes provided therein, the governing authority of Rural Fire Protection District No. 2 of Tangipahoa Parish is hereby authorized to levy an additional tax, not to exceed twenty mills on the dollar of assessed valuation and for a period not to exceed ten years, if the question of levying such tax is approved by a majority of the electors of the district voting in an election called for that purpose.

(6)  In addition to the tax provided for in Subsection A of this Section, the governing authority of the Ward 4 Fire Protection District of Jackson Parish is hereby authorized to levy an additional tax not to exceed five mills on the dollar of assessed valuation for a period not to exceed ten years if the question of levying such tax is approved by the electors of the district voting in an election called for that purpose. The purpose of the additional tax shall be to maintain and operate the district's fire protection facilities, to purchase fire trucks and other fire fighting equipment, and to pay the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes, including hydrant rentals and service.

(7)  In addition to the tax provided for in Subsection A of this Section and for the purposes provided therein, the governing authority of Benton Fire Protection District No. 4 of Bossier Parish is hereby authorized to levy an additional tax, not to exceed ten mills on the dollar of assessed valuation and for a period not to exceed ten years, if the question of levying such tax is approved by a majority of the electors of the district voting in an election called for that purpose.

(8)  In addition to the tax provided for in Subsection A of this Section and for the purposes provided therein, the governing authority of East-Central Bossier Parish Fire District No. 1 is hereby authorized to levy an additional tax, not to exceed ten mills on the dollar of assessed valuation and for a period not to exceed ten years, if the question of levying such tax is approved by a majority of the electors of the district voting in an election called for that purpose.

(9)  In addition to the tax provided for in Subsection A of this Section and for the purposes provided therein, the governing authority of any fire protection district whose boundaries are wholly within the boundaries of Rapides Parish is hereby authorized to levy an additional tax, not to exceed forty mills on the dollar of assessed valuation and for a period not to exceed ten years, if the question of levying such tax is approved by a majority of the electors of the district voting in an election called for that purpose.

Amended by Acts 1952, No. 123, §1; Acts 1970, No. 556, §1; Acts 1975, No. 17, §1; Acts 1977, No. 95, §1; Acts 1978, No. 206, §1; Acts 1984, No. 87, §1, eff. June 15, 1984; Acts 1988, No. 395, §1, eff. July 10, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 690, §1, eff. July 7, 1989; Acts 1989, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 7, §1, eff. July 14, 1989; Acts 1989, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 16, §2, eff. July 24, 1989; Acts 1992, No. 18, §1, eff. May 19, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 21, §1, eff. May 18, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 151, §1, eff. June 5, 1992; Acts 1995, No. 23, §1, eff. May 25, 1995; Acts 1995, No. 1176, §1, eff. June 29, 1995; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. May 1, 1996; Acts 1997, No. 20, §1, eff. May 14, 1997; Acts 1997, No. 192, §1; Acts 1997, No. 566, §1; Acts 1998, No. 14, §1; Acts 1999, No. 414, §1, eff. June 18, 1999*; Acts 1999, No. 1198, §1.

NOTE:  *See Acts 1999, No. 414, §3, relative to retroactive application.