Vermilion Parish School district wants a 1/2 cent sales tax on ballot

The Vermilion Parish School Board gave the OK for school superintendent Tommy Byler to begin looking at putting a new 1/2 cent sales tax proposal on the ballot in the near future.
On Monday during a committee meeting, Byler requested permission from the board members to begin researching on what it would take to get a sales tax passed in Vermilion Parish.
Byler explained that the $4.3 million collected from the proposed 1/2 cent sales tax would go toward school employee salaries only.
In 1994, Vermilion Parish ranked No. 2 in Acadiana in what it paid its teachers. Today, since teachers have not gotten a raise, the parish ranks No. 7 in Acadiana.
“This is for all employees who work for the school district, not just teachers,” said Byler.
He said sales tax collection has been good over the last year.
No date was given on when it would be placed on the ballot.