Looking forward to 2016 for the cities and state

While this issue marks The Forum’s annual holiday pause through the next few weeks to the end of the year, there’s plenty to look forward to in 2016.

And it starts early with a special session of the state Legislature in February – during which it’s hoped Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards and lawmakers can agree on tax and budget policy to move Louisiana toward stability in funding the state.

For enough years to deem it legislative habit, lawmakers have deferred the hard choices to right the state’s fiscal position. That’s resulted in annual threats to the future of our higher education systems and health-care systems, and breathtaking multi-billion dollar backlogs in DOTD projects. Patchwork short-term funding schemes including selling state property, using reserve accounts and using legal settlements to make it through one more year have become the norm in state fiscal policy.

Perhaps the early 2016 special session and spring regular session will reveal a serious commitment by the governor’s office and majority of lawmakers to seriously address Louisiana’s disastrous fiscal policy.

We can also look forward to a couple of election events in the early part of 2016, starting with the March 5 presidential preference primary. An April 9 election is the occasion for Caddo and Bossier parish voters to renew the 2.5 percent property tax dedicated to the Port of Caddo Bossier for another 25-year period.

As economic development investments go, the early and continuing public support of this regional economic engine surely counts as one of the most significant endorsements of building our area’s economic growth. Bentler Steel’s location at the Port is just another demonstration of that economic growth.

For those who need a refresher on the Port’s impact, take a few minutes to visit the facility’s website. It’s a good reminder of why we voted to support this endeavor in the first place and why we should continue that practice.

Doubtless many in Shreveport are looking forward to longhoped-for completion of the Youree Drive/Kings Highway intersection. In Bossier, we’re looking forward to momentum on the city’s plan to widen Viking Drive to five lanes between Airline Drive and Swan Lake Road.

This project is one more step in the city’s plan to alleviate the traffic congestion on Airline Drive, particularly between Beene Boulevard and Shed Road. And as more businesses open along that stretch, congestion will only increase. But for those who simply want to travel north or south on Airline, without stopping/eating along the route, a loop around the congested area would be most welcome.

On the other hand, a stop at the new Kroger Marketplace is well worth the time.

With the new year, area residents and visitors to the old downtown Bossier will begin to see changes as the city moves forward to give this area a whole new identity.

Some of the first changes will involve improvements to a section of Barksdale Boulevard that will include a new road, underground utilities and streetscaping improvements.

Here’s hoping your holiday season is filled with the Christmas spirit and new year begins with great prospects and plans.

We’ll see you on the other side.

Marty Carlson, a freelance writer, has been covering local news for the past 17 years. She can be reached via email at martycarlson1218@ gmail.com.