BATON ROUGE, LA – At a town hall this week, Council on Aging leaders made what they described as a simple financial argument: tax dollars are far more dependable than someone’s will.
“Public revenue is stable, transparent, and voter-approved,” one official explained. “Wills can be amended, contested, or unexpectedly scrutinized by nosy relatives.”
The presentation emphasized that a renewed tax provides predictable income for transportation, meal delivery, and outreach programs, without the uncertainty that can accompany estate-related ‘misunderstandings.’ Leaders noted that relying on consistent tax collections prevents what they called “avoidable confusion.”
The presentation contrasted “recurring public revenue” with “nonrecurring estate assets,” emphasizing that public revenue is far less likely to generate family disputes or litigious heirs.
Officials assured attendees that the agency’s focus remains on serving seniors, not navigating probate court. Still, they acknowledged that stable tax funding eliminates the need to explore “less sustainable, estate-adjacent funding paths.”
The meeting ended with a reminder that a “Yes” vote keeps revenue flowing through approved public channels, rather than through documents typically signed in a lawyer’s office or the COA breakroom.
The town hall concluded with a simple message: taxes may be unpopular, but at least they do not require notarization or a family intervention.
