East Baton Rouge Voters Reject DA’s Proposed Tax Funding
BATON ROUGE, La. — A sweeping proposal to create a dedicated revenue stream for the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office was soundly rejected by voters Saturday, dealing a major blow to District Attorney Hillar Moore’s effort to bolster his office’s operations and resources.
Unofficial returns showed nearly 60% of voters opposed the measure, which sought to impose a new parish-wide property tax aimed at raising $24 million annually. The funds would have been earmarked specifically for the DA’s office — a move Moore said was essential to keeping up with rising caseloads, hiring additional staff, and implementing reforms.
“We’re obviously disappointed,” Moore said moments after results began to crystallize. “We believed this was the path forward to better serve our community. Still, our team will be back at work Monday — doing what we’ve always done: pursuing justice.”
The failed proposition was one of several items on a busy ballot that included tax renewals, special elections, and local runoffs. But the DA’s tax — seen by some as a litmus test for public trust in the criminal justice system — drew heightened attention and debate in recent weeks.
Supporters argued the measure would allow prosecutors to reduce backlogs and invest in modern technologies and diversion programs. Critics, however, questioned the need for a new tax amid rising property assessments and expressed concerns about oversight and transparency in how the funds would be used.
Voter turnout remained modest but steady across East Baton Rouge Parish, with early votes largely predicting the outcome. Analysts say the measure’s failure reflects growing scrutiny of government funding requests, especially when tied to law enforcement and prosecution amid broader criminal justice reform conversations.
Election officials expect the final certified vote count later this week. Moore has not ruled out revisiting the proposal in the future but acknowledged that, for now, the office will move forward without the additional revenue.
“This was never about politics,” he said. “It was about giving this community the tools it deserves. The people have spoken — and we’ll continue to serve them with the resources we have.”
