OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) -- Rod Sias was Chief Administrative Officer during the Reggie Tatum administration and has direct experience and understanding of Opelousas infrastructure. When sat down to discuss ideas on how to improve the infrastructure, he laid out some ideas that include effective plan development and an understood effort from both officials and residents.

"We have an incredibly old infrastructure that has not been upgraded in a planned, systematic way, and our millage rate has not kept up with the times," Sias said.

Sias says the infrastructure ultimately needs to be rebuilt. However, these projects need funding, and millage rates in the city were approved in the 60s and 70s, when the infrastructure was still new. Sias says tax rates are also disproportionate in the city, causing more issues.

"We have that with some of the high sales tax in the area, but some of the lowest property taxes, we got the sixth lowest military rate in terms of supporting schools and infrastructure in the state of Louisiana," he explained. "A lot of people are complaining, that say their property owners really aren't paying their fair share. Sales tax falls disproportionately on families with young children, the elderly and the poor."

Sias says a healthy city is measured in healthy schools, healthy parks, safe environments and improved qualities of life. If things are to get better, it's going to take revenue for the city and proper planning from leaders, putting the responsibility on everyone in the city operating as a team.

"This is a complex problem and it's not going to be solved by people bringing politics and bashing," he said. "This is about people who care about Opelousas wanting to come together regardless of their differences and do what's best for the city. Opelousas is the third oldest city in the state of Louisiana, and it's got a history worth saving. We've got to get past our differences and pointing the fingers and find a way to get this thing done."

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