Berwick council OKs budget with new police officer

BERWICK — The Berwick town government has a new budget for 2023-24, and it includes money to hire an additional police officer.

The Town Council passed its budget at Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting by a 4-1 vote. It takes effect with the start of the new budget year Oct. 1.

Also Tuesday, the council authorized an agreement under which money appropriated by the Legislature this spring will be used to replace the town’s water meters. An ordinance introduced Tuesday would raise water charges for commercial customers.

And the council approved a request by three Berwick High students for a permit for the annual homecoming parade Sept. 28.

Budget

Berwick’s new budget anticipates about $6.9 million in revenue, or 8.1% less than it expects to have taken in by Sept. 30. Total spending is expected to be $5.3 million, down 14.7%.

The accumulated fund balance will rise slightly to just over $4 million, or enough to cover town spending for nine months. Auditors recommend a balance big enough to cover two months.

The big drop in expected revenue, about $935,000, is from intergovernmental transfers, reflecting grants the town received as one-time money. The same is true in spending.

General government is expected to cost $1.2 million, nearly a third less than this year.

But the budget also more than doubles expenditures for the Volunteer Fire Department to $375,000 and gives the Police Department a 6% boost to $1.4 million.

After an amendment passed Tuesday , the budget includes an extra $79,000 for an additional police officer. That provision also led to the lone no vote on the budget.

The council introduced the budget Aug. 8. Then, Councilman Lud Henry noted that the money for the new police officer, which he understood to have been approved at a budget meeting, wasn’t in the 2023-24 proposal. Chief Administrative Officer Newell “Bubba” Slaughter said it could be added.

And the amended budget passed Tuesday did just that. Henry asked and learned that $50,000 for the officer came from a delay in the purchase of a police vehicle, with the rest to come from surplus funds.

Council members James Richard, Kevin Hebert, Colleen Askew and Raymond Price voted for the budget. Henry voted against it.

“It was a disagreement over how we did it,” Henry said.

The council had already added an officer after a town officer was reassigned to be Berwick’s school resource officer.

Meters

The Legislature’s capital spending budget for this year included more than $570,000 for new water meters in Berwick. The devices will allow the town to save manpower by automating meter-reading.

On Tuesday, the council authorized Mayor Duval Arthur to enter an agreement with the state for the project.

Also Tuesday:

—The council introduced an ordinance that will raise water fees for commercial customers and a handful of industrial users.

The ordinance would raise the charge for the first 2,000 gallons each month to $25 from $15, and raise the charge for each additional 1,000 gallons to $6.50 from $5.50.

The ordinance wouldn’t affect residential water bills.

If the ordinance follows the normal course, it will come up for a public hearing and passage vote at the Oct. 10 meeting.

—Berwick High students Alyse Harrison, Jude Tarver and Isabell Ortiz asked the council to OK a permit for the school’s homecoming parade at 4 p.m. Sept. 28 in Country Club Estates. The council approved the permit unanimously.

Berwick’s homecoming will have a “Wizard of Oz” theme.

The homecoming game will be Sept. 29 against Thrive Academy.

—Leslie Smith and Dee Hymel of Roots and Ribbons invited the council to the Puttin’ On The Pink 5K run and two-mile walk at 4 p.m. Oct. 7 at Patterson’s Morey Park.

The event will raise money to support St. Mary breast cancer patients and survivors.

—Political candidates continue make the rounds as the Oct. 14 primary approaches. Appearing at the council meeting Tuesday were Parish Council District 10 hopefuls Reginald Weary and Angelena Brocato, District 4 candidate Javon Charles, parish president candidate Tim LeBlanc and state Senate District 21 candidate Henry “Bo” LaGrange.