Louisiana casino ‘moving into’ Baton Rouge

It’s a territorial war between two communities in Louisiana and it appears the city of Baton Rouge will be the ultimate winner.
Involved with Baton Rouge is the unincorporated community of St. George where currently the L’Auberge Casino and Hotel is located. But, probably not for long.
Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. (PNK), the national gaming company that owns L’Auberge, has asked that the property be annexed into the City of Baton Rouge. The move has been described as a major victory for Baton Rouge and a serious loss for St. George.
Shortly afterward, a second blow befell St. George. LSU has submitted a request to annex its south campus properties into Baton Rouge city limits.
According to The Advocate newspaper, the petition was submitted less than 24 hours after L’Auberge Casino, a high-profile revenue generator in the parish, also made known its intention to join Baton Route.
The moves are considered efforts by Baton Rouge to chip away at both the revenue streams and footprint of the proposed city of St. George, which in its incorporation could divert millions of tax dollars from Baton Rouge coffers into the St. George municipal budget.
Unfortunately for St. George, the community’s budget is heavily dependent upon revenues generated by businesses within its boundaries. Baton Rouge was successful in annexing the Mall of Louisiana before targeting the casino and the university.
In announcing the school’s decision, President and Chancellor F. King Alexander said, “LSU and the City of Baton Rouge have a mutually beneficial relationship. We prefer to remain part of this city, where we have been since 1869. We find no justification to merit having our land divided between two jurisdictions, and have concerns that such divisions could adversely impact services critical to our students.”
Responding, St. George spokesman Lionel Rainey said Baton Rouge officials are trying to wage a public perception war. He noted that LSU has no financial value to the City of Baton Rouge, because the campus doesn’t generate tax revenue, so the annexation is just another indication that Baton Route officials are trying to undercut the St. George effort.
“If they’re celebrating this as a win and that the city of St. George is dead, they have gravely underestimated the resolve of the people who live out here,” he said.