Last Tuesday’s election decided a number of issues, but the results of a couple of tax propositions deserve a second look – and perhaps a second chance.

First, and as so ineloquently noted by the Shreveport Times, “Bossier ‘kills’ tax to benefit [the Independence-Bowl].” Bossier voters did defeat the 2 percent hotel occupancy tax increase with the parish’s 55 to 45 percent vote.

And while Caddo Parish voters supported the proposition at 52 to 48 percent, the total vote between Caddo and Bossier parish voters failed by 208 votes, as a result of the Bossier vote.

But the Duck Commander Independence Bowl won’t be the only entity to suffer the loss – the Ark-La-Tex Regional Air Service Alliance and Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission would have also been benefactors to this moderate increase in the local hotel-motel occupancy tax.

We have long known and bemoaned the shortcomings of our local airport service and proceeds from this tax would have been employed to bring more carriers and flights to Shreveport.

From just about any view, expanding service at our regional airport is beneficial to the entire community, particularly as it relates to generating greater economic development opportunities for Shreveport and Bossier.

If we want those greater opportunities, we must have the financial wherewithal to underwrite the needed expansions of service.

Further and since its inception, the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission has demonstrated an ability to bring sports events and the proceeds of those events to the Shreveport-Bossier communities.

A short list of events supported by the commission include Jr. Dixie Boys World Series Age 13 and Dixie Boys World Series Age 14; USA Wakeboard Collegiate Nationals; and Regions Archery Tournament. These events bring many visitors to our area where they spend on restaurants and bars, retail, lodging, drugs and fuel.

Although the tax was opposed by the local hotel-motel industry, the fact is that what the proceeds of this tax would have produced would have also resulted in the more rooms rented for these people.

This tax proposition was a solid concept and method to produce much needed revenue for important economic drivers in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. It deserves a second chance, with a stronger message to voters of what successful passage of the measure means to our community.

Second and more specific to Bossier Parish was the result of Tuesday’s election as it concerned a new ad valorem tax proposition and renewals of two existing property taxes.

Voters rejected the proposition for a 1 mill (1/10th of a cent) property tax to provide a secure local source of funding to the Bossier Council on Aging by a vote of 52 to 48 percent. And they came very near to rejecting a 10-year renewal of the Bossier Parish Library’s sole source of funding – a 7.57 mill property tax.

The vote to keep the parish’s library system operating for another decade passed by less than 500 of the 30,000 votes cast on the issue.

Only the Cypress Black Bayou Recreation and Water Conservation District 10 year 1.54 mill property tax renewal passed with the more comfortable 57 to 43 percent margin.

While acknowledging that property owners and voters are tired of taxes, it is equally critical to understand just what it is that we are paying for through these taxes and what we are convinced we can live without. Doubtless few would like to live in a community without a library system.

Given the sentiment demonstrated at the polls last week, Bossier voters might want to take some time to decide just what they get for their money, and what they don’t need.

That’s particularly true with respect to Bossier City voters, who in March will decide whether they can do without police and fire services as they vote to decide the fate of property tax renewals that fund those services.