LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- A one year $0.01 sales tax in the nine parish Acadian area could provide enough funding to build the juvenile detention center for the Acadian region and hopefully put a dent in juvenile crime. Soon, people in that region will have the chance to vote on approving that sales tax.

Jessie Bellard, the Chairman of the Acadiana Juvenile Justice Board spoke to KLFY about the sales tax.

"The written proposition is going to state that the $0.01 sales tax, up to $0.01, is for one year and then immediately following that it drops down to no more than a quarter cent sales tax for operation and maintenance of the facility," said Bellard.

Bellard says currently juveniles who commit crimes in Acadiana often have to be transferred out of state or to other parishes to be held in juvenile detention.

This is not only costly, but also misses an opportunity to educate juveniles on the consequences to their actions.

"For 10 juveniles is costing us $50,000 a month," he said. "With a facility like this, we're going to give the judges an opportunity to lock up some of these juveniles for a 72 hour wait period to make them think about it again before they do anything wrong. I think we're missing that boat right now where we don't have the ability to do this."

With these issues in mind, Bellard says the plan to bring in the sales tax to Acadiana and build this 112-bed facility can give kids a chance to learn from mistakes and also keep them closer to their families.

"So, what I want people to know is that we want to build a facility that's going to make sure that we give these kids the education, the tools, anything that's needed to get out and get into the workforce and get into programs, get into whatever is needed to be taxpaying citizens of our parishes," Bellard said.

While no location has been set for the potential facility, Bellard says the tax could be ready to be voted on during an election in March.

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