§130.875. Taxes; borrowing money

            A. The board of commissioners may, when necessary, levy annually an ad valorem tax, provided that the amount, term, and purpose of the tax, as set out in a proposition submitted to a vote in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code, shall be approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting in a special election held for that purpose.

            B.(1) The board of commissioners may, subject to approval of a majority of the electors voting at an election held for the purpose, levy and collect a sales and use tax within the boundaries of the district for such purposes and at such rate as provided by the proposition authorizing its levy, not exceeding one percent, which tax may exceed the limitation set forth in Article VI, Section 29(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana.

            (2) The tax shall be levied upon the sale at retail, the use, the lease or rental, the consumption, the distribution and storage for use or consumption of tangible personal property, and upon the sales of services within the district, all as presently defined in R.S. 47:301.

            (3) Except where inapplicable, the procedure established by R.S. 47:301 through 317 shall be followed in the imposition, collection, and enforcement of the tax, and procedural details necessary to supplement those Sections and to make them applicable to the tax herein authorized shall be fixed in the resolution imposing the tax.

            (4) The tax shall be imposed and collected uniformly throughout the district.

            C. In addition to any tax, fee, charge, or assessment otherwise authorized by this Subpart, the district may levy or impose any tax, fee, charge, or assessment which is approved by a majority of the voters of the district who vote at an election held for such purpose.

            D. All funds derived under this Section may be used only for expenses or specified purposes of the district. The board of commissioners shall establish and maintain, in addition to all necessary and normal accounts, the following special accounts:

            (1) A revolving-loan guarantee fund, to be used to guarantee industrial or business terminal development loans to the extent permitted by the Constitution of Louisiana under the following guidelines:

            (a) Loan guarantees shall be made only when adequate financing for the project is unavailable through normal lending channels and the project represents a sound business venture that is financially and economically feasible.

            (b) Loan guarantees shall be used to assist an identifiable business concern to finance plant construction, conversion, or expansion and to finance acquisition of land, existing structures, machinery, or equipment, and to provide operational funds.

            (c) The terms and rates shall be compatible with loans offered by local lending institutions, and the guarantee shall never exceed forty percent of the cost of the total project. In addition, the district shall attempt to obtain the most favorable security available under the circumstances to protect and ensure the recovery of its commitment under the guarantee.

            (d) Loan guarantees may be evaluated for the economic impact in terms of the number and types of jobs created or saved.

            (e) Loan guarantees shall be made to leverage other sources of private and public capital to attain the greatest economic impact possible with the limited funds available.

            (f) Loan guarantees shall be targeted to industries, manufacturing firms, and wholesale distribution firms and service firms.

            (g) No project may be considered unless the project will be constructed and maintained by persons at least eighty percent of whom are residents of the parish of Vernon and at least eighty percent of the goods and services for maintenance of the project are obtained from a supplier domiciled within the parish, except where not reasonably possible to do so without substantial added expense, substantial inconvenience, or substantial sacrifice in operational efficiency.

            (h) The lending or underwriting principals shall have such demonstrated experience, ability, and net worth as would allow for the success, continuation, security, and solvency of the program. Prudent lending and underwriting standards shall be applied in order to comply with the primary objectives of this Section.

            (2) An economic development operation fund, for the development and attraction of industries to accomplish the following:

            (a) The operational fund shall be used for operating expenses necessary in creation of industrial and commercial development, in hiring sufficient staff to accomplish the purposes set out in this Subpart, and other related expenses.

            (b) The operational fund may also be utilized in contracting for services as may be required by the district including but not limited to planning assistance, surveys, land use studies, professional and technical services, and other services necessary to effectuate a unified industrial development plan.

            (3) An account for the maintenance and operation of a governmental procurement center to provide necessary information to companies and individuals engaged in providing services and goods to accomplish the following:

            (a) Pinpoint and identify potential buying centers and aid in placing the company on a bidder's list for these centers and assist companies in obtaining specifications for their products or services.

            (b) Provide trained counselors to assist in acquiring solicitation and bid packages and conduct seminars designed to disseminate other information needed by the target companies and individuals.

            E. Any tax levied under this Section shall be in addition to all other taxes which the city, parish, or any other political subdivision within the parish of Vernon are now or hereafter authorized to levy and collect.

            Acts 2020, No. 320, §1, eff. June 12, 2020.