12.12.26 - OUR LIBRARY IS ON THE BALLOT

Key Facts: December 12 Ballot

Election Date: Saturday, December 12, 2026
On the Ballot: Renewal of the library's existing 1.67 & 4.11 mills property taxes
Funding Impacts: 96% of the library's total operating budget is funded by millages
Duration: The requested renewal funds the library for the next 10 years
Not a New Tax: This request renews the existing library funding established in 1987 & 1996, adjusting only for mandatory state-required property value recalculations
System Usage: Funds directly support operations, materials, maintenance, and technology across all parish library locations

HOW DO I VOTE?

What Day: Saturday, December 12, 2026
What Time: Polls are open from 7 AM - 8 PM
Where: Find your polling location at voterportal.sos.la.gov.

Early Voting: November 28 - December 5 (excluding Sunday, November 29) from 8:30 AM - 6 PM at the following locations:

Lafourche Parish Government Complex
307 West 4th St, Thibodaux, LA
Lafourche Parish Government Complex
16241 E Main St, Cut Off, LA
Lafourche Parish Government Complex
4876 Highway 1, Raceland, LA

Polls are open from 7 AM - 8 PM
on Saturday, December 12, 2026.

Absentee Voting: Deadline to request an absentee ballot is December 11 by 4:30 PM (other than military and overseas voters.) Request an absentee ballot online through the Voter Portal or in writing through your Registrar of Voters Office:

Lafourche Parish Registrar of Votes: Michael R Boudreaux
Lafourche Parish Government Complex
307 West 4th St, Thibodaux, LA

Register to Vote: If you are not yet registered to vote, the deadline to register in person at the Lafourche Parish Registrar of Voters Office, by mail, or at an OMV office is November 12. To register to vote in the December 12 election, you must be a U.S. citizen; be 18 by December 12, 2026; and be a resident of Lafourche Parish. Identification with a Lafourche Parish address will be required to register.

The deadline to register to vote through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is November 21.

OFFICIAL BALLOT PROPOSITIONS

IMPORTANT BALLOT NOTE: LOOK FOR TWO SEPARATE PROPOSITIONS
The Lafourche Parish Public Library is funded by more than one millage, therefore your December 12 ballot will include two propositions for the library.

Proposition 1: The 1.67 Mills Renewal

What It Is: A renewal of the library's funding for all operations
History: This funding has continuously been approved by voters since 1987
Duration: The requested renewal funds the library for the next 10 years
What You Will See on Your Ballot:
Proposition No. 1 (Tax Continuation) Shall the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), be authorized to continue the levy of a tax of one and sixty-seven hundredths (1.67) mills on all the property subject to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $1,411,712.70 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2027 and ending with the year 2036, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining or operating the Lafourche Parish Public Library and its branches, said millage to represent an adjustment of .02 mills (due to reappraisal) over the 1.65 mill tax originally authorized at an election on October 24, 2015 to be levied through the year 2026?

Proposition 2: The 4.11 Mills Renewal

What It Is: A renewal of the library's funding for all operations
History: This funding has continuously been approved by voters since 1996
Duration: The requested renewal funds the library for the next 10 years
What You Will See on Your Ballot:
Proposition No. 2 (Tax Continuation) Shall the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), be authorized to continue the levy of a tax of four and eleven hundredths (4.11) mills on all the property subject to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $3,474,334.85 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2027 and ending with the year 2036, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and/or operating the Lafourche Parish Public Library and its branches, including automation and other equipment, library books and materials and furnishings therefore, said millage to represent an adjustment of .05 mills (due to reappraisal) over the 4.06 mill tax originally authorized at an election on October 24, 2015 to be levied through the year 2026?

HOW DO I CALCULATE MY TAX?

The library millage accounts for only 4.5% of a homeowner's property tax bill.
Use the table and formula below to calculate your tax.

Library Millage Monthly Comparison Cost Examples

OUR LIBRARY. OUR COMMUNITY. OUR FUTURE.

Lafourche Parish Public Library's millage renewal supports:

Vibrant & dynamic programming & events for all ages from birth - seniors
- Family-friendly fun & story times
- Performances & character events
- Arts & crafts workshops
- Sewing & crochet classes
- Makerspace workshops
- Fitness & line dancing classes
- Veteran's Day events
- Fire truck visits
- Homeschool Hangout

Annual Summer Experience, featuring themed enrichment & entertainment opportunities with an emphasis on reading & learning
State-of-the-art Makerspaces with innovative tech, including Glowforges, 3D printers, sewing & Cricut machines, & more
Outreach & partnerships with local organizations, including schools, daycares, Head Starts, senior centers, nursing & care facilities, homebound residents, nonprofits, & more
After-school meal program in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank
24/7 Digital Library, featuring e-Books, audiobooks, magazines, and movie & music streaming services
Suite of educational resources, including state-specific test prep materials for K-12, college, & certification exams
Library-2-Geaux bookmobile
Live, virtual K-12 + college tutoring
Books, DVDs, video games, tablets, & other tech available for check out
Reservable meeting & study rooms
Resume, career, & job search assistance
1000 Books Before Kindergarten family reading program
Book-a-Librarian for individualized assistance on any topic
Hotspots for check out, providing Wi-Fi outside the library
Volunteer opportunities for residents
Computer & Wi-Fi access
Copying, printing, & faxing services
Robust & comprehensive genealogy collection, including in-library access to Ancestry.com
... AND SO MUCH MORE!

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Lafourche Parish Public Library Cardholder Perks

The value of a Lafourche Parish Public Library card cannot be understated! There are so many perks and benefits to being a cardholder of Lafourche Parish Public Library, including, but not limited to:

OUR STORY

Community

Since 1935, Lafourche Parish Public Library has served as an essential and vital cornerstone of our bayou community, inspiring lifelong learning, advancing knowledge, and strengthening the area we call home. Whether it is providing support to residents through library services and resources, or offering opportunities to explore, create, and socialize through library programming, community is at the heart of all that we do at Lafourche Parish Public Library.

Culture.

Lafourche Parish Public Library proudly does the important work of preserving and protecting our parish’s cultural heritage and community identity. Through the library’s role as a custodian of our community’s culture, the history and stories of Bayou Lafourche live on for future generations. With a plethora of historical resources and programming aligned with our area's customs and traditions, everyone can find themselves at the library.

Connection.

With nearly half a million visitors a year, Lafourche Parish Public Library not only connects our community to knowledge and resources, but also to each other, bringing Lafourche residents together and fostering a welcoming community space where everyone belongs. Offering nearly 10,000 programming opportunities in 2025, Lafourche Parish Public Library serves as the premier place for residents to connect and collaborate as a community.

Our Vision for the Future

Lafourche Parish Public Library's vision for the future is to continue providing the books, technology, children’s programs, and community services our parish depends on every day.

A renewal will keep your library strong, accessible, and fully serving our families, students, and seniors.

Your vote helps ensure that our library remains a valuable resource for education, opportunity, and connection throughout Lafourche Parish, and allows us to continue advancing our makerspace areas; provide for more digital resources; and continue our outreach to area senior centers, daycares, and schools; all while providing the same personalized award winning customer service our patrons have come to expect from our highly trained library professionals.

Serving Our Community with
Ten Locations

Headquarters
314 Saint Mary St, Thibodaux, LA

Bayou Blue Branch

198 Mazerac St, Houma, LA

Choctaw Branch

1887 Choctaw Rd, Thibodaux, LA

Gheens Branch
153 N Leon Dr, Gheens, LA

Golden Meadow Branch
1403 N Bayou Dr, Golden Meadow, LA
(Currently undergoing construction)

Larose Branch
305 E 5th St, Larose, LA

Lockport Branch

720 Crescent Ave, Lockport, LA

Raceland Branch
177 Recreation Dr, Raceland, LA

South Lafourche Branch

16241 E Main St, Cut Off, LA

Thibodaux Branch

705 W 5th St, Thibodaux, LA

10 Years of Continuous Improvement

Since the last millage renewal in 2015, Lafourche Parish Public Library has made the following enhancements to the services and resources we offer to our community:

Restored, renovated, and reopened the state-of-the-art South Lafourche Library, featuring an ultra-modern Makerspace, ample meeting and collaborative space, and the latest tech tools and resources, all while incorporating the Bayou Lafourche community into our designs
Gone out to bid on the Golden Meadow Library Restoration & Renovation Project
Introduced Makerspaces to the Thibodaux and South Lafourche branches, inviting patrons to innovate and create using the latest and greatest DIY equipment and tools.
Implemented the Homeschool Hangout monthly program series, where homeschooling families can connect and collaborate while using library resources to support their educational curriculum

Offered hotspots for check out, allowing patrons to access free and fast Wi-Fi whenever, whenever they are.
Introduced STEAM Sit Down workshops, inviting patrons to interact with a variety of science, tech, engineering, arts, & mathematics resources after-school every week
Added Adventure Kits to our collection for check out, inviting patrons to check out a themed "adventure" to take home and explore.

Partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank for Kids Cafe, providing nutritious after-school and summer meals and snacks to school-aged children and teens at no cost
Introduced a community Puzzle Exchange and Board Game check out service at select branches
Added new apps and resources to our Digital Library, including Libby for eBooks & audiobooks; cloudLibrary NewsStand for digital magazines; Biblio+ for movies & TV series streaming; ComicsPlus for graphic novels, comics, and manga; and Freegal for music streaming and downloads.
Created interactive play areas at the Thibodaux and South Lafourche branches, including Lite Brite walls; maze runs; and a Draw Alive wall (South Lafourche), bringing children's art creations to life before their eyes

Offered video games for all modern and major consoles for check out, giving gamers a variety of options for play without incurring the cost of self-purchase
Partnered with Downtown Thibodaux to offer a Story Walk to visitors, inviting them to read a story in order at various points of interest as they walk around downtown
Added low-cost laminating services at all branches
Introduced the Library-2-Geaux Bookmobile service, offering convenient and mobile library services to communities affected by Hurricane Ida
Opened a temporary Storefront location for our down the bayou communities as the South Lafourche and Golden Meadow branches underwent the process for restoration after Hurricane Ida
Implemented the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, 500 Books Before Middle School, and 100 Books Before Graduation family reading programs
Offered a suite of DIY and maker classes, including sewing, crochet, 3D printing, laser printing, Cricut, and more
Piloted the Check Out Louisiana Museums program, offering free passes to Louisiana museums with a library card
Offered weekly Take & Make crafts, giving patrons opportunities to craft from the comfort of home

Awarded for Excellence

Since the last millage renewal in 2015, Lafourche Parish Public Library has received notable accolades from the Louisiana Library Association, including being awarded the 2016 Louisiana State Library of the Year through the prestigious Modisette award. Additionally, Director Laura Sanders received the Louisiana Library Director of the Year Award in 2020 for her outstanding contributions to our Lafourche Parish Public Library system and the community we serve.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a library millage?

A library millage is a local property tax rate dedicated solely to funding your community's library system.

How is a "mill" calculated?

One mill represents $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed, taxable value. In Louisiana, this rate applies strictly to the property's value after the standard homestead exemption is factored in.

What does a "renewal" mean?

A renewal means the community is voting on whether to continue an existing funding source that is already in place. It is a continuation of current funding levels, not a new or additional tax assessment.

Why a December election date?

The upcoming Saturday, December 12 election funds our library system for the next ten years, and determines if we can maintain current operations for the future. By Louisiana law, this date is a standard, regularly scheduled state election following a mandatory six-month waiting period after a previous vote, making it the soonest the millages could return to the ballot.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Lafourche Parish Public Library has been "loved bayou since 1935," and we are so honored and thankful that YOU have continued to choose us for your educational, entertainment, and enrichment needs over the past 90 years!

The future of Lafourche Parish Public Library looks bright thanks to you, and we look forward to being your local hub for community, culture, and connection in the years to come.

Thank you for always loving and supporting your Lafourche Parish Public Library!

For more information about the millage election, please reach out:

Headquarters
- 314 St Mary St, Thibodaux, LA
- (985) 446-1163 or headquarters@lafourche.org
Bayou Blue Branch
- 198 Mazerac St, Houma, LA
- (985) 580-0635 or bayoublue@lafourche.org
Choctaw Branch
- 1887 Choctaw Rd, Thibodaux, LA
- (985) 633-6453 or choctaw@lafourche.org
Gheens Branch
- 153 N Leon Dr, Gheens, LA
- (985) 532-2288 or gheens@lafourche.org
Larose Branch
- 305 E 5th St, Larose, LA
- (985) 693-3336 or larose@lafourche.org
Lockport Branch
- 720 Crescent Ave, Lockport, LA
- (985) 532-3158 or lockport @lafourche.org
Raceland Branch
- 177 Recreation Dr, Raceland, LA
- (985) 537-6875 or raceland@lafourche.org
South Lafourche Branch
- 16241 E Main St, Cut Off, La
- (985) 632-7140 or southlafourche@lafourche.org
Thibodaux Branch
- 705 W 5th St, Thibodaux, LA
- (985) 447-4119 or thibodaux@lafourche.org
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As always, our staff are happy to provide assistance and answer questions. Thank you for your patronage and interest in the future of your Lafourche Parish Public Library system!