Steve Bandy
A 2017 budget that includes cuts in pay and even the termination of one parish-paid employee was adopted by the Acadia Parish Police Jury here Tuesday night.
Overall, the jury adopted a $31.4 million operating budget for the coming fiscal year. However, that figure includes numerous “dedicated” funds — money that can be used only for a specified purpose. The actual day-to-day operation of the parish is handled through the General Fund, which has a budget of $7.3 million for fiscal 2017.
“All employees that are paid through the General Fund are taking a 10 percent pay cut for the coming year,” said Laura Faul, secretary-treasurer. “Unfortunately, we were forced to terminate one employee from the registrar of voters’ office and a number of other offices that are funded by the parish, such as the Clerk of Court, are taking cuts also.”
During a public hearing prior to the start of Tuesday night’s meeting, Billie J. Meyer, registrar, pleaded with jurors not to terminate her employee.
“Our workload has quadrupled the last few years with mandates from the state,” she said. “Our work does not end with the election cycle, it continues year-round with registering voters, checking registrations, changing addresses, etc.”
Meyer said the position being terminated was approved by the jury in April 2007 as a “full-time, parish-paid” position. She explained that, when Acadia Parish’s population reaches 65,001, the state will take over half of that pay — which now stands at $38,037 annually, including benefits.
“We’re just about 2,400 short of that number now,” Meyer said. “I feel certain that we will reach that population within the next two years.
“I need this position. Our workload maintains this position. The amount you will save is minimal when you compare it to the service provided to your constituents.”
The position terminated is the only one in that office that is paid 100 percent through the parish General Fund.
The General Fund budget for the coming year shows $7,268,753 in projected revenue and $7,267,706 in projected expenses, leaving only $1,047 for any contingencies.
In other action, jurors amended the parish garbage disposal ordinance as it pertains to roadside dumping.
Proposed by Juror Kerry Kilgore, the fine for roadside dumping was increased from $500 to $5,000 per occurrence.
“I saw a City of Crowley sign the other day that said they have a $5,000 fine for littering,” Kilgore said. “It was surrounded by plastic grocery bags and other debris.”
Jurors agreed that enforcement is the key to stopping the illegal dumping.
“I think it’s a good idea to raise the fine,” said Michael “Pee Wee” Schexnider, parish road manager. “But we’ve found bags of garbage on the side of the roads and looked inside and found addresses on light bills. We’ve taken them to the sheriff’s office and were told we had to see them dumping.”
President Davis Savoy couldn’t help but comment on the irony. “If you have too much for your garbage can, stack it on the side of the road and we’ll pick it up — for free,” he said.