Can local political campaigns help? City Council agrees to spend more local-option sales tax money

In the face of criticism from flood victims and some candidates in the Nov. 3 city election race, the City Council again last night agreed to steer some more local-option sales tax revenue to a second group of flood victims.

The city has been collecting the revenue since April 1, but has yet to spend any of it. The tax is expected to bring in about $90 million for flood recovery over 63 months.

In last night's decision, the council decided to spend an estimated $1.25 million for a particular group of perhaps 50 homeowners whose renovation costs for their flood-damaged homes exceeded the amount they could receive in state Jumpstart funds. These particular owners will need to show receipts of work already completed to get reimbursed with the sales tax money.

Two weeks ago, the council earmarked about $3 million to pay for the rehabilitation of flood-damaged homes that are part of renovation programs. One such program is the non-profit Block By Block, which is trying to restore most of the flood-damaged homes on eight city blocks by Christmas.