NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Although it may be the first weekend of Jazz Fest it is also election night Louisiana!

Saturday (April 29th), two major propositions on the ballot are taking place in New Orleans and St. Tammany Parish regarding millage funding.

In New Orleans, voters came out to the polls and voted no to the milage proposition dedicated to Sherriff Huston’s department.

The millage would’ve generate an additional 12 million dollars annually for the sheriff’s department which the Sherriff says mostly will go towards staff pay increases and renovation to the jail.

Sheriff Huston released an official statement regarding the decision stating, “Tonight did not go as we had hoped, but it in no way diminishes the financial needs of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, which has historically been underfunded through the city’s budgeting process. If we want to achieve a jail that lives up to the needs and expectations of this community, meets best practices and helps us exit a 10-year consent judgement, we must do more!

We must provide competitive pay for our deputies, fix a broken jail that is dangerous for residents and staff and improve our IT infrastructure to better be able show the public what is happening inside the jail. We came to our community looking for support to fix these problems knowing it will take the community that we care for daily to also care for OPSO.

While we did not succeed in making our case to voters, we want the community to know the men and women of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office are dedicated to this community. I’m proud of their work every day, and we all will continue to work together to help our community whenever and however we’re called upon. To the OPSO family, please know that I will continue fighting for you every chance I get.”

In St. Tammany parish voters also voted no to renew a current millage to fund the coroner’s office.

Coroner Charles Preston says the money will go toward mental health services and the DNA Lab.

There were several other seats and propositions on the ballot today, those wishing to monitor full election results can visit the Sectary of State’s website.

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