THIBODAUX, La. (AP) — The Lafourche Parish Council has voted to send two tax increase proposals to voters May 4.

The Courier reports (http://bit.ly/Yauegr ) one involves improvements to the Bayou Blue recreation center and the other is for a new clinic in Galliano.

The largest increase would go to Recreation District 11 in Bayou Blue. The district wants to borrow about $4.2 million to pay for improvements to the rec center.

"It is a small price to pay to keep our kids off the street," said Councilman John Arnold, who represents the area. "If we have this to where these kids can go out there and do stuff instead of running the streets, it is a great accomplishment."

Lloyd Olin, the recreation district's director, gave the council a wish list of improvements the money would pay for.

Those improvements include a water spray park, soccer fields, a football field, two beach volleyball courts, a 150-foot pier on the Hollywood Canal and a youth fishing program.

Money would be used to improve the park and fix the deteriorating walking track as well as pay for new outdoor lights.

Olin also said improving the drainage at the center is important and noted the center needs to replace the termite-weakened light poles that illuminate the baseball fields.

Lady of the Sea Medical Center officials want to borrow $3 million for a new clinic.

The proposed clinic will replace two satellite clinics in south Lafourche, house seven doctors and cater to general health needs.

By building its own facility on the hospital campus, officials will save the more than $100,000 that is spent annually to lease the two off-campus clinics, said hospital CEO Don Werner.

It will also be closer to the hospital's outpatient testing labs, making the hospital's services more convenient for patients, Werner has said.

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Information from: The Courier, http://www.houmatoday.com