Parish Council sees a calmer budget for 2025

FRANKLIN — After a year of arguments over the state of its 2024 budget, the St. Mary Parish Council on Wednesday introduced a budget likely to cause fewer waves in 2025.
But the parish government budget isn’t where it should be in order to be prepared for emergencies or take advantage of grant opportunities, Parish President Sam Jones said after the meeting that was moved up a week because of Thanksgiving.
Also as a result of the meeting, Gravity Drainage District 2A may come in for more Parish Council scrutiny after a presentation about the district’s equipment during Hurricane Francine.
Budget
The budget ordinance’s introduction Wednesday marked the start of a 20-day waiting period, after which it can come up for a public hearing and passage vote. Wednesday’s early meeting date means the budget could come up for a final vote as early as the next regular meeting Dec. 11.
The budget anticipates about $36.3 million in general fund revenue, the biggest single source of which is $10.9 million in tax revenue. Intergovernmental revenue accounts for another $8.1 million, and another $7.9 million is expected from fees, charges and commissions.
Proposed general fund expenditures amount to $36.1 million. The biggest spending category is general government, $11.5 million. Public works are expected to cost $6.2 million next year, and debt service — another budget sore spot in 2024 — is expected to cost $4.7 million.
The budget adds about $197,000 to the accumulated balance, which is expected to reach $17.5 million.
Over the course of this year, the first in a new council term, Jones has repeated campaign claims that the council is overextended and carries too much debt, especially because of a bond issue during predecessor David Hanagriff’s administration.
Hanagriff has defended the bond issue, proceeds from which was shared with municipalities for road improvements. Councilman the Rev. Craig Mathews of Jeanerette, who chairs the council’s budget committee, has also been skeptical of Jones’ charges.
On Wednesday, Mathews described this year’s budget process as more congenial.
“We’re a little better off than last year,” Jones said, also after Wednesday’s meeting. “But we’re not out of the crunch.”
The proposed budget requires no further reduction in services or layoffs, Jones said. But it also lacks a fund to handle emergencies and to provide a match that would allow the parish to receive state or federal grants.
“We have to get our place in order,” Jones said.
Drainage
St. Mary Gravity Drainage No. 2A operates a series of pump stations designed to remove water from inside Morgan City’s levee system.
Paul Rappmundt, a local businessman and assistant director of the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, came to the council with photos of inadequately equipped pump stations and flooded streets, especially after Hurricane Francine on Sept. 11.
He also pointed to an $8.1 million project, one-third of which was to be funded by the state government and two-thirds with local money, and said the plans for the project don’t match the work that was performed.
Councilman Mark Duhon of Amelia had already suggested expanding the number of council committees on an unrelated topic, and Councilman J Ina asked what the council could do to make sure the district is prepared for emergencies.
That led council members to talk about ways the parish government can monitor the activity of District 2A and other parish entities. No specific steps were taken Wednesday.