BY ADAM KOOB

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

VIDALIA — The Concordia Parish Police Jury spoke out against state legislators Monday night when they passed a resolution against financial disclosure.

Jury members endorsed a resolution by the Rapides Parish Police Jury against newly passed legislation aimed at requiring all elected officials in Louisiana to provide complete income records to the state.

Jury President Melvin Ferrington said he supports the need for elected officials to submit financial records, but said the new law goes too far in its requirements.

Ferrington and other jury members took issue with the law because it mandates that members of any board also provide their financial records.

In addition, the law requires spouses also submit their financial records for examination.

“We are opposed to this,” Ferrington said. “It’s not needed.”

Ferrington said he felt the new demands would ultimately deter volunteers from joining much-needed boards.

“This impacts every board we’ve got,” he said. “It’s hard enough to get people on boards already.”

Ferrington said if a member of the hospital board had to submit all financial records for themselves and their spouses, that potential board member could be discouraged from joining the board due to the personal nature of the finance records.

Ferrington said the jury will send a letter to the governor expressing the board’s disapproval of the law.

In other news, the jury finalized the addition of the Concordia Parish Council on Aging’s request to add a millage proposal to November’s ballot.

Council President Guylyn Boles said the millage would help to bolster the council’s budget and expand services in the community.

The jury also approved a $445 expenditure to place an ad for the police jury in the map printed by the chamber of commerce.