Legislation would allow West Feliciana to rebate property taxes from data center windfall
West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, is set to receive $90 million annually for 15 years from a $10 billion data center project, effectively doubling its budget. New legislation, HB466, proposes to allow the parish industrial board to issue property tax rebates to residents using these funds.
A massive $10 billion HUD 8 data center construction project is underway in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. The agreement with the developer will provide West Feliciana Parish with an unprecedented $90 million annually for the next 15 years, a sum that essentially doubles the parish's current annual budget.
A new piece of legislation, HB466, is currently moving through the state capital. This bill aims to grant authority to the parish industrial board to provide property owners in West Feliciana a tax rebate, utilizing the substantial funds flowing in from the data center project.
Parish President Kenny Hard described the project as a "generational thing," emphasizing that the revenue will reshape the community by funding infrastructure improvements like roadway construction and a new jail, as well as enhancing the quality of life. Resident Chris Fry, who moved to St. Francisville, expressed excitement about the potential community growth and additions like sports parks if the bill passes and surpluses are used effectively.
The specifics of the tax credit amount and the timeline for its implementation are still being determined. Lawmakers are expected to decide in the coming weeks whether property owners will receive tax relief from this new revenue stream. The data center is projected to be fully operational by late 2027.