JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RENEWAL OF THE 1994 ¼ CENT LAW ENFORCEMENT DISTRICT SALES TAX

JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECAP OF 1/4 CENT SALES TAX EFFECT n Original Proposal estimated an increase of $10.9 million per year. n By 2011, total ¼ cent sales taxes collections exceed $18.2 million annually. n The 1/4 cent tax generates $14.0 million per year for the Sheriff’s Office.

JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECAP OF 1/4 CENT SALES TAX EFFECT n FY 10/11, total sales tax collections for JPSO (including the 1/8 and 1/4 cent sales taxes) amounted to $21.0 million or 16.9% of the Sheriff’s General Fund revenues. n The ¼ cent sales tax made up about 2/3rds of this figure ($14.0 million or 12.3% of the total exp).

JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECAP OF 1/4 CENT SALES TAX EFFECT n As promised in the Sales Tax Proposal, the majority of this money has gone to salaries and benefits. In fact, the tax covers 12.3% of JPSO costs and 15.7% of salaries and benefits. n In 1993, salaries and benefits totaled $39.5 million. FY 02/03, salaries and benefits totaled $67.0 million, and by FY10/11, salaries and benefits have reached $89.3 million. n The increase is made up of three parts - 1) more personnel, 2) higher salaries (as raises were given after the initial tax passed), and 3) higher benefit costs (retirement and health insurance).

JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECAP OF 1/4 CENT SALES TAX EFFECT

n Since 1993, the salaries for Law Enforcement personnel has increased from $39.5 million to $89.0 million. n The starting salary for a deputy has gone from $1,400/month ($8.07/hour) to $2,750/month ($15.87/hour) - an increase of 96.4%. n The last raise given by the Sheriff was in 2006, the year after Hurricane Katrina. n Despite this dramatic increase, salaries at JPSO still lag behind the southern average, as well as other local jurisdictions (St. Tammany, New Orleans, etc.).

JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECAP OF 1/4 CENT SALES TAX EFFECT

n The sales tax proposal promised that JPSO would hire more deputies and other personnel. n Since 1993, the number of employees has grown from 1,342 to 1,619 (just prior to Katrina) and now down to 1,465 - an increase of 123 or 9.2%. n Our budgeted strength is 1,465. n This includes 150 additional people hired to man the new jail annex back in The costs to man the new jail were borne completely by the Sheriff – no funding from any other source or tax.

JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECAP OF 1/4 CENT SALES TAX EFFECT n One of the main reasons for additional personnel cited in 1993 was the increasing number of calls for service. n In 1984, calls for service totaled 144,000 and by 1992, they totaled 273,000. Projections were that they would exceed 300,000 very soon. n The projections were right. By 2005, calls for service peaked at 401,000. n While the numbers have decreased over the past few years, calls for service still top 325,000 per year (just about 890 per day).

JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECAP OF 1/4 CENT SALES TAX EFFECT

n The sales tax proposal promised other things besides increased salaries and personnel. n A state-of-the-art 800 MHZ radio system was also proposed at a cost of $8 million. n The radio system was built and is currently operational. The total cost to date is $13.1 million (including a $3 million federal grant which allowed the local cities to use the system). n This system has since been replaced with a state-of- the-art 700 MHZ radio system (funded with sales taxes and federal grants).

JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECAP OF 1/4 CENT SALES TAX EFFECT n The sales tax proposal also promised to keep the JPSO fleet of vehicles in better shape. n Since the tax went into effect, the Sheriff has adopted a policy of turning the fleet over every four years. n This is costing the Sheriff’s Office an average of $3.2 million per year. n Before the tax went into effect, we were spending an average of $600,000 per year on vehicles and equipment. n Maintaining a good fleet is critical to maintaining a response time below 5 minutes.

JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECAP OF 1/4 CENT SALES TAX EFFECT

n Perhaps the best indicator of the effect this ¼ cent sales tax has had is the number of crimes. n Since the ¼ cent sales tax went into effect in 1995, the Total Number of Crimes has steadily declined (see graph). n More police on the streets, better paid and motivated officers, and better technology has allowed this to happen.

JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECAP OF 1/4 CENT SALES TAX EFFECT

n The sales tax proposal promised one last thing - intergovernmental cooperation to improve the local criminal justice system n To help the local courts, the Sheriff pledged $1.5 million towards the construction of a new 24th JDC courthouse. This money was set aside in n The Sheriff also pledged $1.0 million towards a new Juvenile Court lock-up and processing center. This money too has been set aside since 1995.

JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECAP OF 1/4 CENT SALES TAX EFFECT n Two more “big-ticket” items have been purchased with the help of the 1/4 cent sales tax - the new jail annex and the new Westbank Administrative Office. n The Sheriff committed nearly $5.3 million of video poker money to the jail annex. This would not have been possible without the sales tax in place. n To date, JPSO has spent over $7.0 million on the purchase and renovation of the old La Gas building in Harvey. The new administrative offices were occupied in FY Again, this would not have been possible without the sales tax.

JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECAP OF 1/4 CENT SALES TAX EFFECT n It should be noted that while this tax is levied by the JPSO, it truly benefits every police department in the Parish –Kenner PD –Gretna PD –Westwego PD –Harahan PD –Grand Isle PD –Lafitte PD

JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECAP OF 1/4 CENT SALES TAX EFFECT n Under the tax ordinance, sales taxes collected within a municipality remains with that municipality. n Thus, the ¼ cent law enforcement tax that is levied by JPSO goes back to the municipalities to help fund their police departments. n Per the schedule, in total, this tax covers 12.5% of Parish-wide law enforcement costs.

JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECAP OF 1/4 CENT SALES TAX EFFECT

n In conclusion, the sales tax has done what it was supposed to do - help us keep Jefferson Parish safe. n Since it accounts for 12.5% of total law enforcement costs, it is clearly a large part of our operating plan. n This is NOT a new tax, merely a renewal of a very critical funding source.