Breaux Bridge – Parish property owners will get a slight break on their school taxes for 2012.

The St. Martin School Board last week approved a levy of 33.84 mills on taxable property during its April 4 meeting, down from the 2011 levy of 34.08 mills.

Although the 21.5 mills collected to finance the retirement of bonds will stay the same, three other taxes – a constitutional tax and others for maintenance and operations – were dialed back slightly by a combined .24 mills.

The lowered millage reflects a trend in place since at least 1995, when the millage stood at 41.94 mills.

In a finance related matter, the board awarded contracts for three construction projects to the lowest bidders:

•Southern Constructors of New Iberia had the low bid for a new multipurpose building at St. Martinville Sr. High in the amount of $2,211,00.

•M.D. Descant of Bunkie was the successful bidder on new classrooms for Cecilia Primary at a cost of $1,136,000.

•E.L. Habetz Builders of Crowley had the low bid of $238,000 for renovations at Breaux Bridge Jr. High to establish the parish’s virtual school center.

Under personnel matters, the board approved Superintendent Richard Lavergne’s recommendation and appointed Joy Cormier as principal of Breaux Bridge Elementary.

Richard Potier of District 7 opposed the appointment of Cormier, who is currently an assistant principal at Breaux Bridge Primary, while Wanda Babin of District 2 abstained.