Patterson budget is back in the black

After two years of financial struggles, the Patterson City Council on Tuesday passed a 2026-27 budget that ,Mayor Rodney Grogan emphasized to a reporter, is back in the black.
Also Tuesday, the council said goodbye to its longtime director of public works and the chairman of the Planning & Zoning Board. And the council turned down a zoning variance that would have provided a temporary home for a pet boarding business.
Budget
Patterson’s city budget problems surfaced when an expected 2024-25 surplus turned into a projected $367,000 shortfall.
Over the course of months, the city brought back retired City Hall employee Pam Washington and hired Monica Mabile to sort out the budget.
Some of the belt-tightening hit hard. City employees endured a 5% pay cut in 2025, and City Hall stopped paying a 50% share of health insurance coverage for the families of city workers.
A $4 charge for street lights also drew some negative reaction.
But a 2025-26 budget amendment passed Tuesday is expected to result in a surplus of about $350,000.
The budget for 2026-27, passed unanimously Tuesday, anticipates revenue of just over $4 million and expenses of $4.1 million. But a boost from operating transfers is expected to be just over $1 million, leaving an operating surplus of about $951,000.
The city budgeted to receive about $2.2 million in tax revenue next year, down $50,000 from 2025-26. The other big income source is charges for services, $807,000, up about $25,000 from this year.
On the expense side, the city budgeted $1.7 million for police, down about $337,000 from this year’s spending.
Departing
The council presented a commemorative plaque to Steve Bierhorst, who is retiring.
In addition to the last 14 years as public works director, Bierhorst has served as a member of the Patterson and St. Mary Parish councils.
The last few years have been active ones in public works with a new water plant and major upgrades in the sewer and gas systems.
Also leaving a city post is Cedric Wilson, who is moving to Napoleonville. Wilson has served on the Planning & Zoning Board for six years, most recently as chairman.
His seat on the board was one of two. The council appointed Darrell Williams and former Councilman Travis Darnell.
Zoning
Lucas Millet had hoped to move his pet boarding business from Main Street to the 100 block of Bernard Street temporarily until he can move to a site on U.S. 90. He sought a variance allowing his business to move to an area zoned for mixed residential.
His plans included fencing to keep animals secure in the daytime and an insulated building to keep them at night.
But two neighbors, Jacqueline Arceneaux and Doreen Francis of the Bernard Street neighborhood, spoke in opposition to the variance.
Their objections centered on noise and multiple parked cars in a neighborhood they described as peaceful.
“I wish him well,” Arceneaux said, “but not on our street.”
Arceneaux gave the council a list of eight names she gathered from among her neighbors, all opposed to the variance.
Council members Ray Dewey Sr. and Mamie Perry expressed similar sentiments. The council kicked around the idea of limiting Millet’s business to a year at the Bernard Street location, but that idea died.
In the end, the council voted 4-1 against the variance, with DeMale Bowden casting the lone positive vote.
Now Millet will turn to the Planning & Zoning Board as he plans his move to the U.S. 90 location.