YOU VOTED FOR A 1/8 CENT SALES TAX; HERE'S THE PROMISE  

Across our country, rural counties that are growing are attracting tourists and retirees by promoting their rustic charm, hospitality, main street traditions, and the natural beauty of their hills and waters. Well-endowed Claiborne Parish can capitalize on this rural growth trend.

No other type of development can provide so many immediate benefits to current residents, because tourism and retirement development are founded upon providing a good quality of life. Fishing and parks will be improved and towns and landscape beautified. Public landings will be better maintained. Lake area residents will receive more services and protections similar to those provided residents of other populous areas.

The time to act is now. For the past ten years, Claiborne Parish has been losing population -- a net loss of more than 35 people each year. The recent closing of WalMart is only the most visible effect of the snowballing loss of businesses and public services that occurs with population decline.

What are these funds for? To support the activities of the Watershed Commission. What are these activities?
1) Projects around Lake Claiborne:
  Replace floating channel markers with permanent pole type markers;  
     
  Improve piers and maintain public landings on a regular schedule;  
     
  Improve the public’s access to the Watershed Commission and develop mechanisms to help assure a dependable response;  
     
  Promote shoreline development, responding to suggestions of residents and potential developers, with an aim to improve Lake Claiborne’s contribution to the parish economy;    
     
  Revitalize the Lake Claiborne Advisory Committee, to generate ideas for enhancing the lake and surrounding properties;  
     
  Maintain viability of Lake Claiborne as a recreational lake, assuring optimal conditions for fishing, waterfowl hunting, and watersports of all types.  
     
2) Economic development around all of the parish’s water resources:
  Apply for state and federal grants available for enhancement of water resources;  
     
  Study the feasibility of constructing new lakes to attract residents and thereby improve the parish’s economy;  
     
  Collaborate with state and local agencies on this and/or other economic development projects;  
     
  Study possibilities for using the parish’s surface water to relieve pressure on the Sparta Aquifer;  
     
  Explore other approaches to better utilize the parish’s abundant surface waters to benefit the parish economy  
     

Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:2861-2878 define the Claiborne Parish Watershed District as a political subdivision of the state, under the same public accountability laws as the Police Jury. With parishwide jurisdiction, the commission has as its purpose "developing the natural resources and wealth of the district for sanitary, agricultural, industrial and recreational purposes" and "maintenance of Lake Claiborne." Commissioners are appointed by the Police Jury and serve without compensation.