Louisiana Supreme Court rules for new City of St. George

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana is steps closer to getting a new city.

The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on Friday in favor of the proposed City of St. George, saying organizers followed the proper process for incorporation, overturning rulings by lower courts. The state’s highest court ruled that St. George’s plan for incorporation was reasonable and would be able to provide its residents with proper public services, The Advocate reported.

At a news conference Monday, St. George organizers said work is already underway on building out the new city government, the Advocate reported.

In 2020, the state Legislature created a five-member St. George Transition District that will serve as the taxing authority until an election is held to impose its municipal tax. Gov. Jeff Landry will select an interim mayor along with five council members. Following the first term, St. George residents will vote for its leaders.

“We’ve celebrated. Today is the end of that celebration,” said Andrew Murrell, a spokesperson for the group. “We’re going to work.”

Baton Rouge leaders took St. George organizers to court in 2019, just two weeks after 54% of voters living within the proposed city’s limits voted “yes” on the incorporation in a November election. Baton Rouge leaders argued that the new city would financially cripple city-parish services and force layoffs by stripping an estimated $48.3 million in annual tax revenue. They also argued that St. George’s proposed budget would operate with a deficit.

Twice the courts shot down the proposed city, once in 2022 when a district judge ruled that St. George couldn’t operate with a balanced budget and was “unreasonable,” and again last year when the First Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that St.