Bill
HB 120
Creates a district in Orleans Parish funded by a voter-approved parcel fee up to $315/year to fund enhanced security, lighting, beautification, and related improvements.
Title: Creates the Real Timbers Crime Prevention and Security District in Orleans Parish
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Proposed law overview
- Establishes a new political subdivision within Orleans Parish called the Real Timbers Crime Prevention and Improvement District (the district).
- Purpose: To promote beautification, security, and the overall betterment of the district area.
Geographic scope
- District boundaries are defined specifically as the area within:
- Iowa Street, Amazon Street, Delaware Street, Memorial Park Drive, Kansas Street, and Hudson Street.
Governing structure
- The district is governed by a seven-member board of commissioners.
- Four members come from the Real Timbers Homeowners Association:
- The association’s president, secretary, treasurer, and parliamentarian.
- Three additional members are residents of the district, appointed by the association.
- Terms:
- The three resident-appointees serve five-year terms (with staggered initial terms: one 3-year, one 4-year, one 5-year).
- The association-appointed members serve during their designated terms.
- Officers and operations:
- The board elects a chairman, vice chairman, secretary, treasurer, and any other officers.
- The board may adopt bylaws, rules, and regulations, including meeting procedures in line with open meetings laws.
- A majority constitutes a quorum; minutes must be kept and available to district residents.
- Board members serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to governance.
Powers and duties (board authority)
- The district can:
- Sue or be sued; have a corporate seal; receive and expend funds per an adopted budget.
- Enter contracts with individuals or entities (private or public).
- Provide or enhance security patrols, improve lighting and signage, and undertake beautification efforts.
- Enter into inter-district agreements for joint security, improvement, or betterment.
- Acquire or lease items and supplies instrumental to district purposes.
- Maintain liability insurance for district operations and for board members.
Funding mechanism
- Parcel fee (tax-like levy) authorized for the district, subject to voter approval:
- Flat fee not to exceed $315 per parcel per year.
- Applies to every parcel within the district (parcels include lots, subdivided portions, individual tracts, and condominium parcels as defined by law).
- Fees are collected by the City of New Orleans in the same manner as ad valorem taxes; the city may retain 1% as a collection fee.
- The fee requires a separate voter-approved proposition to impose, with a maximum term of five years; renewal requires another voter-approved proposition and is also capped at five years per renewal.
- Proceeds are dedicated solely to district purposes; the city remits collected funds to the district within 60 days after collection.
Administration and oversight
- The district may solicit additional voluntary contributions and grants.
- Annual budgeting is required under state Local Government Budget Act (R.S. 39:1301 et seq.).
- The district is subject to audit by the Legislative Auditor.
Intergovernmental and long-term implications
- The parcel fee and district operations are intended to supplement, not replace, security services provided by the City of New Orleans (NOPD).
- If the district dissolves, its funds must be transferred to the City of New Orleans and held in a separate account to promote security, beautification, and improvement for the district area.
Effective date
- Effective upon the governor's signature (or constitutional fallback if not signed).
Additional notes
- The district is created as a defined “political subdivision” of the state.
- Imposes indemnification and limited liability protections for district officers and board members, aligned with applicable Louisiana law (including characterizations similar to nonprofit governance protections).
Conclusion
HB 120 would create a narrowly defined crime prevention and improvement district in a portion of Orleans Parish (the Real Timbers area), governed by a seven-member board with mixed homeowner association and resident representation. It enables a voter-approved parcel fee (up to $315 per parcel annually, up to five-year terms with possible renewals) to fund enhanced security, lighting, beautification, and related district improvements, with oversight, budgeting, and audits, while preserving supplemental status to existing city police services.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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