Shreveport Downtown Tax Election Results Certified

Voters approved a 9.04-mill downtown property tax, and the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court has completed certification of the results.

Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in City Hall

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a brick civic block, river stones, and a steel key on a concrete plinth against a low city skyline. — Shreveport voters approved a 9.04-mill downtown property tax on Nov. 3 with 52% support, and the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court certified the results on Nov. 6. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you support the new downtown property tax in Shreveport?

Shreveport voters approved the Downtown Development District's 9.04-mill property tax with 52% of the vote on Nov. 3, 2026. The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court certified the results on Nov. 6, and no lawsuit was filed to challenge the election before the legal deadline passed.

Why it matters

The tax will fund improvements and projects in downtown Shreveport for 25 years, shaping how the city's core area is financed. The certification process determines when the results become official and the city can act on them.

The downtown tax carries a 9.04-mill rate and runs for 25 years, approved by 52% of voters. The state-level certification by the Louisiana Secretary of State was still pending at the time of the council's postponed vote.

The players

Shreveport City Council

The Shreveport City Council is the legislative body of Louisiana's third-largest city, responsible for local ordinances, budgets, and municipal governance.

Mike Spence

Mike Spence serves as Caddo Parish Clerk of Court, overseeing the parish's election records and certification of local election results.

The details

The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court's office completed its certification on Nov. 6, and the results were treated as official once the deadline for a legal challenge passed without a lawsuit. The Shreveport City Council postponed its vote to formally recognize the results at its Tuesday meeting, citing that state certification had not yet been completed.

Nov. 3, 2026: Shreveport voters approve the downtown property tax.
Nov. 6, 2026: Caddo Parish Clerk of Court certifies the election results.
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026: City Council postpones recognition of the tax results.
Friday, Nov. 14, 2026: Clerk Mike Spence confirms the results are now certified.

Political Context

Louisiana's local tax elections move through parish-clerk certification before state-level certification, a sequence that can leave municipal bodies waiting on the Secretary of State. The council's postponed vote reflects that state-level step remaining open even after local certification was complete.

Downtown property owners and taxpayers in Shreveport will pay a 9.04-mill tax for 25 years toward downtown improvements. The council's recognition of the official results is the next step before the tax takes effect.

The takeaway

A local tax approved by a clear majority still depends on several certification steps before it becomes official, and each step can add delay. Residents following city finances can track the council's recognition vote to see when the downtown tax is formally in place.