OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) — With the heavily discussed 1 cent sales tax renewal on the ballot, more than 2,000 Opelousas residents cast their votes and decided to keep the sales tax that provides the city with nearly $6 million in revenue each year.

The final results show 1,382 voters (68%) voted “Yes” for the sales tax, with 664 (32%) voting “no”.

Julius Alsandor, Mayor of Opelousas, said in an interview, “If I may say, the city benefited from this and is going to continue to benefit from it. So, I’m pleased, I’m gracious knowing how important it is to the city and the city’s future and its economic growth going forward.”

But what does forward movement look like in the city? Alderman at Large, Marvin Richard, says there needs to be a focus on the roads and outdated water lines which need to be repaired and replaced.

“We start seeing new sewer and water lines that’s on main streets of Opelousas being changed, pushed to the sides of the road. We are tired of seeing brown water in people’s homes. I feel that we have to do better. We have to make sure that the people get what they deserve. This is our city. We can’t keep telling them something and they see different,” said Richard.

Both Richard and Alsandor say they are grateful for the citizens that voted “yes”; however, they acknowledge those who voted “no” and hope to give them confidence that things will improve.

Alsandor says, “I’m saying we were listening, and our job is to do the best job that we can. But what we are working with, and we will continue to do that,” said Alsandor.

“They’re thinking ‘why vote for something and it’s not being fixed?’ I assure you that we are working. But I’m asking you guys just to pay attention. Come to the meetings, come to more meetings, get more involved in learning how government works. And again, I want to thank everyone that went out and voted, because you use your rights to vote however you want to vote. But I’m glad that the tax passed for the city of Opelousas,” Richard added.

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