By JIM BUTLER

Renaissance Home’s scaled-back funding request is among issues on the December 7 ballot.

Early voting begins Friday and closes November 30, with no voting on Sundays and on Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after.

Absent the presidential ballot turnout is likely to be quite a bit smaller than the November throng (64.7% of those eligible).

Also to be decided are three Alexandria City Council runoff and three other property tax requests.

The community receiving home for youth last year proposed broadening its scope of operations by renewing an existing millage and adding to it.

Those who voted said, resoundingly, no way, Jose, to paying more and to housing juveniles accused of violent crimes.

Since then the 50-year facility on Bayou Rapides Road has tended to its traditional mission.

It is asking voters to renew a 2.06-mill tax for 10 years. Initial-year yield is estimated at $2.3 million.

Another parish -wide proposition is proposed renewal of the 1.16-mill levy that funds services for the elderly. Initial yield on the 10-year tax is estimated at $1.2 million.

In candidate contests:

• Challenger Jules Green and incumbent Lee Rubin face off in an Alexandria at-large council runoff.
• In District 1 challenger Malcolm Larvadain and Incumbent Reddex Washington Jr. face each other.
• On the ballot in Police Jury District D are challenger Randy Harris and interim incumbent Ernest Nelson.

The challengers in each of the three contests lead the primary vote totals.

Three district property tax renewals are in the ballot:

• Road District 3-A (Ward 3), 32 mills, 10 years, $1 million first year;
• Fire District 10 (Plainview area), 23.91 mills, 10 years, $101,000 first year (rate is increase of 1.32 mills due to property reappraisal);
• Buckeye Recreation District, 6.09 mills.

There are also four proposed state constitutional amendments.

Public Affairs Research Council has a guide to them at parlouisiana.org

Renaissance Home officials and supporters are asking Rapides voters on Saturday to bolster property tax support to allow broadening the facility’s reach. Homestead exemption applies.

The community correction center and juvenile detention home has served as a significant part of the parish juvenile justice system for 50 years.

Voters first approved financing it with a tax in 1974, and have renewed that support each time asked to do so since.

Now, they are being asked to bump the levy from its current 2.06 mills to 3.89 mills, and to okay a 20-year collection.

With the 90 per cent or so increase Renaissance wants to add to its role a facility for housing juveniles accused of violent offenses. Currently, there is no such space in the parish system.

Expanding the facility’s reach would be the latest of additions over the years.

What began as a boys-only program added girls in the late 1970s, shelter care in the mid 80s, an education center at the century’s turn and a visitation center this year.

The proposed tax would yield a shade over $4 million in its initial year of collection.