East Baton Rouge voters to decide St. George charter, crime district

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Some East Baton Rouge Parish residents will be voting on two key propositions in the March 29 election: the Home Rule Charter for the City of St. George and the Wedgewood Crime Prevention and Improvement District.

Proposition breakdown

City of St. George Home Rule Charter

The City of St. George was officially incorporated in April 2024 after the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld its incorporation. Now, residents will vote on whether to adopt its Home Rule Charter into the Louisiana Constitution.

If approved, the charter would grant the City of St. George the authority to:

• Enact ordinances for public welfare, safety, and governance.
• Establish its own form of government and structure.
• Allow council members to pass ordinances by majority vote, investigate city officials, and manage city matters.
• Grant the mayor authority to veto ordinances but not to vote in council meetings.
• Designate the mayor as the communicator between the council and the city manager.
• Appoint a city manager who serves as the chief administrative officer, responsible for hiring, firing, budget preparation, enforcing ordinances, and coordinating with public safety agencies.
• Allow residents of St. George to propose new laws, repeal existing ones, and remove elected officials through recall elections or legal action.

Read the full Home Rule Charter Amendment here.

Wedgewood Crime Prevention District

The Wedgewood Crime Prevention and Improvement District proposition seeks voter approval to continue an annual fee on improved residential and commercial properties for 10 years.

The fee would fund:

• Enhanced law enforcement presence and patrols.
• Beautification projects.
• General improvements to the district.

Fee details:

• Residential parcels: $95-$150 per year.
• Commercial parcels: $250-$400 per year.
• Estimated revenue for the first year: $60,825.

Read the full Wedgewood proposition text here.

Voting information:

• Absentee ballots: Ballots must be returned by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 28.
• Poll hours: Voting will take place on March 29 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Where to vote: Voters can find their polling place and view a sample ballot on the GeauxVote app or GeauxVote.com.
• Identification required: The Louisiana Secretary of State reminds voters to bring a valid ID to the polls.

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