Baton Rouge officials approved a new sales tax near LSU's campus Wednesday after a public debate over the new arena where some of the tax could be collected.

The East Baton Rouge Metro Council unanimously authorized the LSU Economic District to levy a new sales tax in the district's boundary, effective Oct. 1. District officials say they are planning for a tax of one cent.

The approval came after several comments from residents who feared the tax is going to be given to the developer of the proposed new arena and took issue with any new tax levied without direct voter approval.

"I can stand here very confident and say this whole tax is to prop up the development," said former Metro Council member Darryl Glasper. "It may have not have been created for that, but because it was created

See Full Page