Judge Says No To St. George Incorporation, Appeals Planned

Organizers of the proposed city of St. George say they plan to appeal a judge's ruling denying their efforts to split off from Baton Rouge.

Voters approved the idea of making St. George its own city in 2019.

East Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome sued to block the move.

Retired District Court Judge Martin Coady ruled on Tuesday that St. George wouldn't be able to operate with a balanced budget.

Coady also said the creation of the new city would cost Baton Rouge taxpayers $48 million a year.