By Harlan Kirgan Editor
Facing a $670,000 deficit for its fiscal year that ends in December, the St. Landry Parish Council examined expenses at a special meeting and decided to meet again this Tuesday.
The meeting may result in the Parish Council approving an amended 2016 budget, which can be used for the next nine months if that is needed.
Charles Going, an Opelousas CPA assisting with the budget preparation cautioned that parish government should not delay budget cuts.
Those cuts include laying off 17 employees, including 11 in the Road and Bridge Department.
Councilman Timmy Lejeune said, “Laying off these people doesn’t have to wait until the first of the year.”
Going, of the firm Going, Sebastien, Fisher and LeBouef, said if parish government waits until June 2017, the layoffs could mount to 34 people.
During the Nov. 22 special meeting, council members quizzed Parish President Bill Fontenot about expenses that are outstripping revenues.
The deficit-ridden General Fund projects expenses of $7.2 million and revenues of $6.5 million.
Revenues and expenses for 2017 are each projected at $6.3 million.
This year will end with a fund balance of $1.1 million down from $1.8 million in January 2016. The 2017 projected ending fund balance is $1.1 million.
Animal Control came under particular scrutiny as Sheriff Bobby Guidroz offered the help of parish inmates at the shelter, but only if he is assured of proper security.
“I’ll be happy to help you,” Guidroz said. “We have inmates that are trustees that can work for you at no cost to you. All I want is assurance that they are not going to bring alcohol and drugs and contraband into my jail. I’ve got inmates that are willing to go out there and do this for you at a cost savings to you.”
But Guidroz said he does not have confidence in the supervisor of the animal shelter to provide the proper supervision of inmates.
“I don’t think the people in control of the animal control section are willing to work with me to convince me that is going to happen,” he said of security assurances.
Council members asked to meet with Guidroz and the parish president to work on the sheriff’s offer.
Animal Control is projected to take a $428,000 bite out of the parish budget this year. Personnel expenses were budgeted at $202,500, but are now expected to be $283,273.
Other budget matters included:
Councilman Ken Marks said there are 32 parish vehicles and he suggested the parish president study using a vehicle pool.
Lejeune said he would like a commitment to return video poker to the Road Bridge Fund as soon as possible. The $555,000 in video poker is being switched from the Road and Bridge Fund to shore up the General Fund in 2017.
— Lejeune also asked Fontenot to avoid using General Fund money for self-supporting funds, such as the Health Unit.