$1M issue heats up IPC meeting

Published 6:00 am Thursday, June 28, 2018

Wednesday night’s Iberia Parish Council meeting got a little heated when a resolution to approve $1 million in revenue anticipation notes for Iberia Parish Fire District No. 1 came up for vote. 

Fire Chief Guy Bonin addressed the Iberia Parish Council’s Finance Committee two weeks ago about the issue, and said the money would only be used as needed when the department couldn’t afford to continue day-to-day operations for the rest of the year. Only money necessary, up to $1 million, will be used.  

Because Fire District No. 1 recently approved an increase to property taxes, Bonin said the money should be needed only for this fiscal year, with the extra millage revenue compensating starting next year. 

During the discussion at the latest meeting, Iberia Parish Councilman Warren Gachassin wanted to know why he only became aware of the fiscal problems with the fire department a few weeks ago. 

“This is nothing against Guy and his team. We’ve got a great fire department. What are we doing in other cases of committees that are like this? Is there any safeguard where we’ll know faster when these departments get in binds like this?”

Iberia Parish President Larry Richard said the administration has been talking with Bonin about the money problems within his department since December.

“We caught on to it maybe six to eight months ago and we talked to Guy,” Richard said. “And that’s the reason he’s here now. You should know about it because it’s in your books.”

“(Finance Director) Kim (Segura) sends us monthly updates,” Council Chairman Paul Landry said. “It’s 149 pages, I know it’s tough to look at. You should be able to look at that and address the administration in the office.”

“There’s 14 of us here, and zero of 14 didn’t pick up on this,” Gachassin said. 

“I think we need to address these problems when the administration finds them.”

Despite the disagreement, the council voted unanimously for the resolution. In the Finance Committee, the council also voted to delete an agenda item that would have put $125,000 in construction funds repairs to the Rynella Fire Station repairs. 

The council also unanimously voted to about $300,000 in budget reductions for the department. Segura said the cuts mainly came out of money that would have went toward bunker gear, travel and equipment.

“The fire board met and reviewed the budget previously adopted, and they adjusted some line ties,” Segura said.

“There was $125,000 for the roof, $100,000 in equipment and $40,000 in travel and bunker gears. That’s the bulk of it.”