Yesterday, the paper reported that “Alexandria has decreased from 49,188 in 1990 to 45,836 in 2006.”
The most comprehensive yearly count (and the one that is officially recognized by the State of Louisiana) is performed by Louisiana Tech’s Business School. Unlike the projection extrapolated from the 2000 Census (the 45K figure), the LA Tech estimate is done every year; it is more rigorous and more thorough.
And it says the population of Alexandria, Louisiana is:
48,490. (And I believe it could be more).
CenLamar 
I’m sure the Town Talk did the simple thing and went straight to the Census Bureau website for the information.
The article discusses the reallocation of the 1 cent sales tax levied by the Police Jury.
Here’s some questions that need to be answered:
1) Where is most of this tax collected? My guess, judging from the reports each month and seeing the collections generated by 1 percent in many of the communities which have levied their own tax, the bulk of the tax is being collected in Alexandria. Alexandria, therefore is being more greatly impacted in regards to having to provide fire and rescue services, police protection, and upkeep of roads, along with providing utility infrastructure.
2) Is any of the tax collected, collected on alcohol sales? If so, then this should also be taken into consideration when re-allocating the money. Any amounts collected on alcohol sales should not be given to areas that refuse to sell alcohol. Why should they benefit from other communities’ decision to do so? There are areas of the parish which have made it clear they do not wish to participate in alcohol sales, given this one item generates revenue, why should they share in any amount of revenue collected from these type sales?
3) What communities or areas of the parish are being served by City of Alexandria utilities? There is no longer a sales tax on utilities for residential service. The city does, however, charge a higher rate. At the same time, the parish is not responsible for the maintenance of these utilities. Is the higher rate enough to compensate? If not, then some portion of the allocation should be considered payment to the City for their providing of these services.
By communities, I look to the example of Woodworth who is sharing a waterline with the City of Alexandria. I don’t know if there are others.
4) When this money is allocated to the various bodies, is there a process for accountability or is the money simply handed over? In other words, what are all of these communities, including the City of Alexandria, spending their allocated portion on? Does the police jury duplicate these expenditures within the parish?
I’m sure more questions can be thought of, but these were the first ones that came to mind.