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FERRIDAY, La. — During their regular meeting on Tuesday, the Ferriday Board of Aldermen agreed to hold a public hearing on Sept. 10 to consider adopting a resolution ordering an election to be held within the Town of Ferriday to authorize an additional levy of ad valorem tax.

During its July meeting, the Aldermen already approved a resolution to levy a 4.72 tax millage on the 2023 tax roll and put on the November ballot to get money back from expired millage last year, which the previous administration failed to do.

When asked about increasing taxes for Ferriday, Mayor Alvin Garrison simply said, “We must.”

Other officials have long complained of its public services operating in the red and needing health insurance for employees, including police and firefighters.

Currently, they have no insurance.

The Ferriday board hopes to recoup some funds from a national lawsuit against the retail giant Kroger, which is related to the national opioid litigation in conjunction with the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.

The resolution states the Town of Ferriday has suffered harm from the opioid epidemic.

Kroger agreed to pay up to $1.2 billion to states and $26 million to Native American tribes as well as $177 million to cover attorney fees to settle claims that it helped fuel the national opioid crisis.

These would be paid in equal installments over 11 years.

The funds are to be used for the prevention of opioid addiction as well as the treatment and recovery efforts for those who are addicted.

The settlement only applies to states in which Kroger operates under its name or other names like Harris Teeter, Dillons, Fred Meyer, Smith’s Food and Drug, Ralphs, King Soopers, Fry’s, QFC, City Market, Jay C, Pay Less, Baker’s, Gerbes, Pick ‘n Save, Metro Market, and Mariano’s.