KEY TAKEAWAYS: Louisiana voters will decide five constitutional amendments in the May 16 election. Proposals include changes to civil service rules and creation of a St. George school system. One amendment would dissolve education trust funds to fund teacher pay raises and retirement debt. Oth er measures address business inventory taxes and raising the judicial retirement age to 75.   A high-profile U.S. Senate race has commanded attention going into the May 16 election, but another issue has almost fallen under the radar. Five constitutional amendments covering an array of proposals will go before voters for approval on the ballot. The Public Affairs Research Council, a private and nonpartisan group recently issued the pros and cons of the proposed amendments that will go before voters. Here’s a look at the proposed amendments on which voters will decide in next month’s election. Amendment 1 “Do you support an amendment to allow the legislature to remove or add officers, positions, and employees to the unclassified state civil service?” If approved, it would allow lawmakers to remove state government jobs from the civil service system and its protections without needing approval from the Civil Service Commission. If not approved, it would keep intact the provisions that require Civil Service Commission approval to exempt state jobs from the civil service system and its protections. Amendment 2 “Do you support an amendment to grant the St. George community school system in East Baton Rouge Parish the same authority granted parishes for purposes of Article VIII, Section 13 of the Constitution of Louisiana, including purposes related to the Minimum Foundation Program, funding for certain schoolbooks and instructional materials, and the raising of certain local revenues for the support of elementary and secondary schools?” If approved, the amendment would allow the City of St. George to form its own school district separate from the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, similar to the parish’s other breakaway districts in Baker, Central and Zachary. The district’s operations would begin in July 2027. The creation of a new school system is expected to cost the state an additional $2.4 million a year in the public school financing formula, according to the Legislative Fiscal Office. If opposed,it would keep the school in the City of St. George in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. Amendment 3 Trust funds eliminated for retirement payment, teacher pay. If approved, it would dissolve three education trust funds and use the money to pay down retirement debt and give the public school teachers and support workers a permanent raise. If opposed, it would maintain the education trust funds and continue to distribute their investment earnings for early childhood education, K-12 schools and college programs. Amendment 4 Property Taxes on Business Inventory If approved, it would allow local governments to lessen or eliminate property taxes on business inventory and receive a one-time payment if they stop charging the tax. If opposed, it would continue the current system for local governments to charge property taxes on business inventory. Amendment 5 Mandatory Retirement Age for Judges In 1995, 62% of voters statewide rejected a constitutional amendment that would have raised judges’ mandatory retirement age to 75, according to election results from the Secretary of State’s Office. Nearly a decade later, 58% of voters in 2014 refused an amendment to remove the mandatory retirement age entirely. If approved, it would raise the retirement age for judges to 75 years old. Currently, people who are 70 or older cannot run for election or re-election for a judgeship in Louisiana. Sitting judges who turn 70 are not required to retire immediately and can fulfill the remainder of their term but they cannot run again. If opposed, it would keep the mandatory retirement age for judges at 70 years older. This article originally appeared on Plaquemine Post South: Louisiana’s May 16 election: Five amendments to know Reporting by John Ory Dupont, Post South / Plaquemine Post South USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect ...read more read less