Any property taxpayer in Orleans, Jefferson, or St. Bernard Parish can turn over their tax bill and, on the backside, see where their money goes. A large portion goes to the local levee district. That money should be used for flood protection: capital projects, levee maintenance, drainage-related infrastructure, and emergency readiness. 

Instead, that money is now being used to fund what amounts to private police details for select Lakefront neighborhoods. We are also alarmed that the levee district police chief, Joshua Rondeno, will make as much as $250,000 by 2029. The deal more than doubles the salary Rondeno’s predecessor earned. 

The primary hurricane-related function of levee district police is to halt traffic so levee district personnel can close the gates. They also ride the system to ensure the gates remain closed. That is important work, but it's infrequent and could be  handled by reassigned state police during storm events. 

Rep Hilferty's HB 1240 will allow legislators to ask hard questions of the current Landry-appointed board about the police and other issues, too.