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One week after state Rep. Dixon McMakin announced plans to file legislation that would change how BREC is managed, Corey Wilson said in late March that he plans to step down as BREC superintendent once his contract expires in January 2026.
Rolfe McCollister applauds McMakin’s action in his latest column, written before Wilson’s surprise announcement. “Those who read this column know my criticism of BREC leadership and most of its past commissioners,” he writes.
Considering the lack of facility quality, McCollister describes BREC as “fool’s gold” and questions how the independent taxing authority allocates funds across 180 parks. In 2025, the organization’s budget will be $115 million, with over 1,000 employees, he writes, “That amounts to $315,000 a day for 365 days. For what?”
“I got elected with the promise of bold, positive change,” McMakin tells Daily Report. “I think we have been promised and promised by BREC through the years that change was coming and things would get better, and I have personally not seen that in my interactions with them and in the park system.”
McMakin is proposing two significant alternatives.
One, House Bill 86 would reduce the current BREC Commission from nine members to five—the mayors of Baker, Baton Rouge, Central, St. George and Zachary. Currently, BREC operates as a state subdivision to plan, own and operate public recreational and park facilities in the parish.
The other, House Bill 87, would repeal the existing law, allowing the system to transfer to the city-parish government as a department. Most cities in America run their public park systems. Why should BREC be a state entity? Let the mayor-president hire a top professional park director and name a diverse citizens advisory committee with a passion for parks, not politics. We can do better—and deserve better.
McCollister also supports a dedicated property tax that will appear on the May 3 ballot to boost funding for the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s office. The columnist argues that prosecuting criminals is a critical component in the fight against crime, and the DA’s case log is overwhelmed, with 200 murder cases on the docket and a backlog of 12,000 cases overall. There are numerous reasons, including the fact that Louisiana’s most populous parish receives less DA funding than Orleans and Jefferson parishes.
“This overwhelming caseload leads to delays in convictions and keeps dangerous individuals on the streets longer. It’s a serious issue—and one that demands urgent action,” writes McCollister.
Approving the dedicated 4-mill tax on May 3 would generate enough revenue to fund the DA’s office with an estimated $26.9 million annually, on par with Jefferson Parish. District Attorney Hillar Moore notes that if the tax is approved, the city-parish’s current $8 million in annual funding for the DA’s office would be returned to the general fund.
McCollister says Moore has been a responsible steward and strong leader who has earned our trust and respect. He needs our support on May 3 with a YES vote to keep our community safe.
Finally, McCollister endorses a bill filed by state Sen. Rick Edmonds that, if approved, would create the framework for a St. George school district.
Read McCollister’s full column, and send comments to editor@businessreport.com.
