Millage Renewal Election: November 15, 2025
The Library’s millage renewal election is November 15.
This is a continuation of the current millage, NOT a new tax.
The millage funds 96% of the Library’s budget.
On the Ballot
An election is set for November 15 for the RENEWAL of St. John the Baptist Parish Library’s 9.94 mill property tax, which funds 96% of the Library’s budget for 10 years. This is NOT a new tax. The Library is requesting the same 9.94 mills that has been in place since 1997.
A millage is a tax rate used to calculate property taxes. One mill represents $1 per $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. St. John the Baptist Parish Library’s millage funds the operation, construction, and maintenance of all four of its branches.
Library Millage Renewal Proposition
Shall the Parish of St. John the Baptist, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), continue to levy a special tax of 9.94 mills on all property subject to taxation within the Parish (an estimated $9,500,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2028 and ending with the year 2037, for the purpose of maintaining, constructing and operating public libraries in St. John the Baptist Parish?
Millage Renews
- The Library will be fully funded for another 10 years.
- Residents have uninterrupted continuation of library programs and services.
- LaPlace and Edgard branches will be rebuilt, with groundbreaking on both projects projected for 2026.
Millage Fails
- The Library won’t receive funding from 2027 tax rolls.
- LaPlace and Edgard branches will not be rebuilt unless millage is approved.
- Once remaining funds are depleted, all operations will cease, and residents will lose library services.
Voting Information
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Saturday, November 15. The Library is not a polling location. Find your Election Day polling location at voterportal.sos.la.gov.
Early Voting: November 1-8 (excluding Sunday, Nov. 2) from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the St. John Parish Government Complex, 1811 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace, and the Edgard Courthouse, 2393 Highway 18. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 4:30 p.m. Nov. 12.
Calculate Your Tax
Residential Example
Examples of Cost Equivalents
$6.25
One Starbucks frappuccino per month
$11.49
One “Box” combo from Raising Canes per month
$25.98
Two medium pepperoni pizzas from Domino's per month
| Included with Your Library Card | Approximate Cost to Buy Yourself |
|---|---|
| Check out a bestselling book each week | $15-25 per book / $780-$1,300 per year |
| Access live online tutoring for kindergarten through basic college level through Homework Louisiana | $20-$40 per hour for a private tutor |
| Beginner-to-advanced online web development courses with expert instructors on LinkedIn Learning | $9,995 tuition for a six-month, part-time coding bootcamp |
| Download an audiobook for your commute | $5 - $30 per title |
| Obtain a fully accredited high school diploma through Gale presents: Excel Adult High School | $144 to take the GED test to obtain a high school equivalency |
| Use Mango Languages or attend an in-person Spanish or French language-learning class | $20/month for online language learning OR $430 for an 8-week Spanish 101 class in New Orleans |
| Attend monthly adult craft nights with friends | $45-$75 per person |
| Use Microsoft Office on a Library computer | $99.99/year for Microsoft 365 personal subscription |
| Learn kitchen skills with cooking and baking classes | $150 per person for leisure cooking class |
| Research family history on Ancestry and Proquest genealogical databases | $39.99/month for Ancestry subscription |
| Book meeting rooms for small groups and nonprofit organizations | $70 - $150 per hour |
| Check out passes to museums and cultural centers | $15 - $35 per person |
Return on Investment - Usage Example: In one month, a family of four checks out eight books and downloads two audiobooks. They attend two library programs - one family event and an adult craft night. They book a pass to the World War II museum, which includes entry for two adults and both children, for free with their library card.
Using lower-end estimates, this amounts to a retail value of approximately $340. If the family lives in a $200,000 house and pays $124.25 in taxes annually, they have experienced a nearly 3x savings cost for their investment in the Library in just one month.
Our Story
4 Branches
Serving ~39,624 residents in St. John the Baptist Parish
Since October 1966, St. John the Baptist Parish Library has championed lifelong learning, cultural awareness, economic vitality, and access to information for all. Over time, our branches have expanded far beyond books to meet the needs of the community.
Our vision for the future includes reconstruction of the storm-damaged Norris J. Millet, Sr. Library in LaPlace and the Roland Borne, Sr. Memorial Library in Edgard. These new facilities will not only be designed to withstand severe weather, but will also reflect the role of 21st Century libraries as dynamic community hubs. Investing in modern, resilient libraries prioritizes access to technology, educational programs, and safe gathering spaces for St. John the Baptist Parish residents.
Library Millage in Action
St. John the Baptist Parish Library’s millage supports the following services and resources:
- Educational resources, including state-specific test prep materials for K-12, college, and certification exams
- A MakerSpace with state-of-the-art technology including sublimation machines, 3D printers, sewing machines, robotics, a large-format printer, a laser engraver, and more.
- A dedicated space and equipment for telehealth appointments
- Podcast room for audio recording
- Meeting & study rooms
- Teaching demonstration kitchen
- Live, virtual K-12 tutoring
- Resume & career assistance
- Excel Adult High School diploma program
Bare Necessities: Cooking 101
Craft Community
- Volunteer opportunities for teens and adults
- Computer & Wi-Fi access
- Copy/Print/Fax services, including wireless printing
- Genealogy databases
- E-books, audiobooks, and streaming media
- Books, DVDS, and playaways available for checkout
- Free online access to regional and national publications including The Advocate, The Times-Picayune, The New York Times, and Wall Street Journal
- Relevant programming for all ages
- Health & wellness classes
- Monthly horticulture series
- Language classes
- Arts & crafts classes
- Storytime & family events
More than 25% of St. John the Baptist Parish residents are library cardholders.
Since the last millage renewal, St. John the Baptist Parish Library has opened a new Reserve Branch with expanded meeting room space and additional amenities including a MakerSpace, podcast room, one-button studio, library-run cafe, and gaming space. Upcoming construction projects will prioritize similar features.
Other additions to the library system since the last tax renewal have included new online resources such as Udemy, Mango Languages, and Mometrix e-Library. Residents can now check out complimentary tickets to regional museums and cultural centers.
Building Our Future
Roland Borne, Sr. Memorial Library Reconstruction
Estimated Start Date: Q2 2026, if millage is renewed
Norris J. Millet, Sr. Library Reconstruction
Estimated Start Date: Q4 2026, if millage is renewed
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, St. John the Baptist Parish Library staff worked diligently to reopen a service location in LaPlace. A temporary entrance was created to the left of the Norris J. Millet Sr. Library Branch, opening the doors to library services in a more compact area. The time has come to build a new library that can withstand water and wind. This project will also provide the community with access to state-of-the-art spaces to gather, study, learn, and create.
Library Love
Connect: Video Series
Contact Us
For more information about the November 15 millage renewal election, email us at communications@stjohnlib.com or contact any St. John the Baptist Parish Library branch.
LaPlace Branch at the Norris J. Millet, Sr. Library
2920 HWY. 51, LaPlace | (985) 652-6857
Frazee-Harris Memorial Library
111 HISTORIC FRONT ST., Garyville | (985) 535-6868
Leroy D. Williams Memorial Library
1482 HIGHWAY 44, Reserve | (985) 536-4107
Roland Borne, Sr. Memorial Library
2979 HWY. 18, Edgard | (985) 497-3453