Officials not laughing at Spencer’s gifts
October 5, 2010
Bayou Cane uses grant money for fire safety
October 7, 2010Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph unveiled the proposed 2011 parish budget at the Sept. 28 parish council meeting. The budget is scheduled at $50 million, down eight percent from the original 2010 version.
The budget was compiled with a projected 18 percent decline in ad valorem taxes and a 10 percent decline in sales tax after consultation with the Lafourche Parish Assessor and oil and gas industry executives.
The administration projects $11,800,000 in sales tax and $14,609,599 in ad valorem tax revenues in 2011.
The parish cut $400,000 in miscellaneous expenditures from the recreation department, $125,222 in employee salaries in the drug court and have no operating services budgeted for the Commission of Women or Senior Citizen Activity.
The Office of Community Affairs was cut 61 percent to $30,047 and Beachfront Development was cut 49 percent to $50,000.
Parish employees will likely go the second consecutive year without pay raises, but the administration budgeted for an approximate 20 percent increase in healthcare benefits.
Four major projects are listed for 2011: the replacement of Jessie Dufrene Pump Station, digging of Mathews/Company Canal, Twin Oaks Drainage Project and the parish-wide drainage master plan.
The solid waste fund is projected to total $72 by the end of 2011.
The fund will start the year at $1,125,822 but is expected to lose $1,125,750 due to the projected-to-struggle economy.
Solid waste is funded by a seven-tenths of a cent sales tax, down from the penny the parish citizens approved in 1986. The council decreased the amount taxed in 1996 and although they hold the right bump it up to a fully penny whenever they need to, councilman Daniel Lorraine said he would oppose it until the increase is absolutely necessary.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency owes Lafourche $937,918 in reparations from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, but none of the money was included in the 2011 budget.
The parish’s total outstanding debt as of Dec. 31, 2010 will be $33,540,000 and the 2010 payment due is $4,132,159.
The last day for the council to enact the budget is Dec. 2.
