Political science students from Loyola University New Orleans’ College of Social Sciences presented research findings on ad valorem tax and taxicab policies to the city’s Governmental Affairs Committee.

The report, "An Examination of Ad Valorem Tax Policy in New Orleans," was compiled by Jamie Boudreaux, a senior from Baton Rouge, La., Maria Patselikos, a junior from Metairie, La., and Kevin Welsh, a junior from Gramercy, La. Robert Cade Cypriano, a senior from Baton Rouge, and Cameron Sasnett, a sophomore from Gretna, La., presented "New Orleans Taxicab Policy."

From the ad valorem project, students reported to the committee that New Orleans’ unique allowance of public-private tax levying authority raised transparency and patronage issues. According to the taxicab report, New Orleans’ oversaturation of taxicab licensing has produced a poorly-functioning system compared to cities of similar size.

The research projects were completed as part of the course, Policy Research Shop, taught by Peter Burns, Ph.D., associate professor of political science.

Students chose topics of high interest to provide research and policy reports to local officials in New Orleans. The students presented a report on the city’s request for proposals to recovery chief Ed Blakely. Other topics researched include school governance and road repair and maintenance in New Orleans.

The Government Affairs Committee, headed by City Council woman Shelley Midura, reviews recommendations for appointments to boards and commissions and provides citizens with a greater understanding of how the council, administration and community work together through various boards and commissions.