Traffic and funding for traffic improvements are at the top of the priority list for Lafayette city-parish administrators.
But, there are other issues City-Parish President Joey Durel addressed Wednesday during an informal meeting with the media.
Lafayette city-parish president Joey Durel says the state has to develop a new way of thinking to recover from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Durel says changing people's perception of Louisiana should be one of the biggest goals during the initial stages of recovery.
He says many national media outlets like USA Today unfairly claim the state ranks high in corruption. Durel says that can limit the financial help we receive from the federal government.
In addition, he says state leaders should fight that negative image to help attract business.
Another issue is public schools. Durel says at some point, funding will be needed to repair or replace the aging schools in Lafayette Parish.
A pre-hurricane problem is the Lafayette City-Parish Courthouse. Durel says the final steps were being taken to secure funding to repair the courthouse. But when the hurricanes hit, that money was no longer available.
Durel says he will reveal more about the financial plans January 31st during his state of the parish address.
According to the Lafayette Registrar of Voters Office, the earliest a tax proposal could go to the public is in July.
