Baton Rouge residents form new city to buck taxes, crime

Baton Rouge will be split into two cities; new city to be named St. Geroge
Supporters argue this has been a long-awaited development
Critics argue city will be mostly white, threatening Baton Rouge schools

Updated: May 3, 2024 / 11:27 AM CDT

The Louisiana State Capitol building, the seat of government for the state of Louisiana, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

(NewsNation) — A wealthy group of Louisiana residents from the St. George Parish area have won a decade-long legal battle to split from the city of Baton Rouge and form their own in an effort to buck taxes and crimes.

The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled 4-3 in favor of incorporating the new city of St. George, which will form in southeast Baton Rouge.

However, city council members are urging the court for a reassessment, arguing that information filed by organizers during the hearing is incorrect.

The St. George organizers implemented this campaign about 13 years ago. In 2015, they wanted to establish a new school district, but it failed to garner enough votes, leading to years of legal battles.

‘It’s never been about race’

Supporters argue this has been a long-awaited development.

“We’ve been paying for a lot of services that we don’t get the benefit of using,” said Andrew Murrell, spokesman for the St. Geroge Campaign. “At this point, we want to take our tax dollars and use them in our area for our services for our citizens. It’s about accountability.”

However, opponents argue St. George organizers take money and tax revenue from the local government. They also claim the city will be mostly white and could threaten Baton Rouge schools.

“The St. George plan poses significant risks to our education system, threatens the continuity of critical programs, and challenges community representation, the NAACP Baton Rouge Chapter wrote in a statement.

Murrell said it’s an “easy trope” for national media and people outside the area to adopt the notion that the new city will create a racial divide.

“The reality is the St. George area of this parish is the fastest-growing minority population in the parish. Everyone, regardless of color, should want lower crime, better education and more opportunities. And they see that in St. George, and they’re moving to St. George. So, no, it’s never been about race. It’s about better life, better government, local control.”

What happens next?

As of now, local officials must provide certain services that the parish government currently does. However, incorporation supporters said they plan to privatize many of these services.

Louisiana isn’t the only state with communities looking to operate independently.

Secession efforts have arisen in Georgia and New York too.