As many municipalities around Louisiana continually trend toward further tightening of finances, a city’s proposed operating budget that does not cut services, does no raise taxes and provides employees with raises would have to be considered pretty favorable.
That is exactly what officials in the City of Abbeville have been able to put together.
The Abbeville City Council introduced the budget for the upcoming year during a committee meeting on Tuesday. The budget will be brought to the full council for final approval during the next regular meeting, scheduled for Dec. 19. A copy of the budget is currently available for viewing at Abbeville City Hall. Steve Moosa of Darnell, Sikes, Gardes & Frederick presented the proposed budget during Tuesday’s committee meeting.
“There are a couple of significant areas of the budget that we are really proud of,” Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza said. “One of those areas is that every single department fell within the 2017 budget. All of our department heads, our police chief (Tony Hardy), fire chief (Jude Mire), were able to maintain their departments and come in within budget.
“That’s a great thing and a feather in their cap.”
As for those who make up the departments, there are 159 employees in the city. All of them will be receiving some type of raise. The ‘18 budget includes a two-percent increase for police, fire and city court personnel. Full-time municipal employees will receive a 50-cent-per-hour boost.
“The employees always like to know they are getting raises,” Piazza said. “We are happy to once again be able to extend that benefit to the employees.”
This is the fifth year in a row that the city has provided its employees with pay increases.
“This is truly an amazing accomplishment in these economic times,” Councilman Francis Plaisance said. “The city is blessed with 159 (regular and part-time) outstanding employees in all departments, who work with us, the Council, in a conservative manner, to keep our City moving in a positive direction.”
One big plus for the city will be the completion of the new terminal at the Chris Crusta Memorial Airport. That will be done this year, paid for with oil and gas royalties at the airport. Funds from the royalties can only be used to improve the airport.
“That is something good with that money,” Councilman Brady Broussard Jr. said. “It is going to be good for our citizens and will be good for our industries.
“It’s a great project that is coming up in ‘18.”
Piazza agreed.
“We feel it is going to be a tremendous economic benefit for the airport and for Abbeville,” Piazza said.
Another project set for next year is the rebuilding of the fire station on the west side of the Vermilion River. The historic flooding in August heavily damaged the station, leaving it beyond repair. The new station will cost an estimated $400,000.
The city saved money in 2017 with the signing of its new electrical contract. That will carry over into 2018.
“It’s a good budget,” Piazza said of the proposal for ‘18. “It takes a group effort. I thank the council for supporting me and working together with me on these numbers. All of our department heads, our two chiefs and (City Clerk) Kathy (Faulk) play important roles. These numbers don’t always work. It takes a lot of effort to makes these numbers work.
“We do it year in and year out without raising taxes and utilities.”
Councilman Francis Touchet Jr. serves as the chairman of the city’s finance committee. He was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting due to an unexpected death in his family. Piazza credited Touchet, who calls quarterly meetings to hear thorough updates on the budget, for helping to ease the budget process.
“He is always a factor in watching revenues very closely,” Piazza said. “He always requests the financial reports every quarter and really does a fantastic job of watching the city’s finances.”
Those finances will continue to receive close attention throughout the new year. Something that has helped in recent years is sales tax revenue.
“Another promising note is the consistent sales tax revenues,” Piazza said. “We did see a dip in September and October, but we are still within the predicted sales tax budget, and have been for the last couple of years. Sales tax seems to be holding its own and that is a good indicator of the economic welfare of the city.
“Hopefully that continues and will be a good thing.”
