Introductory budget OK’d

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, August 14, 2018

JEANERETTE — David Greer, fiscal administrator for the town of Jeanerette, laid out a schematic for what the town’s budget will look like in the 2019 fiscal year at Monday’s meeting of the Board of Aldermen.

However, amendments are likely within the next few weeks.

Greer said as much during the meeting in which the board voted for an introductory ordinance approving a tentative budget for the next fiscal year. 

“I have estimated beginning fund balances,” Greer said. “I want to stress that I’ve estimated because we haven’t had an audit. We don’t know what those beginning fund balances are so I’m estimating what they are to come up with a beginning fund balance for the new year.” 

Greer’s estimates showed the total budget expenditures exceeded the projected revenues by approximately $50,000, but the projected fund balance will be able to cover that shortfall with about $112,000 in that fund.

The fiscal administrator said the general fund showed a slight increase in tax revenue from ad valorem taxes, as well as licenses and permits. Intergovernmental revenue will decrease slightly and the city court revenue reimbursement also is projected to decrease. 

Greer said there were other income and sources projected to decrease $42,000 less than last year. Most of Jeanerette’s sales taxes is used for the general fund, except for the 1973 quarter cent sales tax that is dedicated to the town’s utility fund. 

Jeanerette’s new budget also will expect to see several transfers from separate funds. Greer said there is a budgeted transfer from the general fund to the utility fund in the amount of $175,000 because there are shared expenses between the two funds. 

The total general fund is expected to be $50,000 less than the prior year, Greer said, and total expenditures likely will be $90,000 more than the last fiscal year. 

The administrative fund of the budget will increase in order to pay for tax obligations, as well as for fees associated for paying Greer, a state-appointed fiscal administrator who has overseen the town since April. 

The Jeanerette City Marshal’s Office and Jeanerette Volunteer Fire Department are both expected to have increased fees from the last fiscal year, but the Jeanerette Police Department, Street Department and street lighting are all expected to decrease. 

Greer said he didn’t propose increases for the new budget yet, and the proposed budget will have amendments at the next budget meeting. 

“I don’t have a warm fuzzy about what increases are needed,” he said. “When I get a warm fuzzy feeling about what is needed I’ll bring it to this body. I know we’re not covering our costs on water, and we’re not covering on our costs on sewer.” 

The board unanimously voted to accept the introductory budget. 

In other business, the board also voted to introduce an ordinance renaming the Jeanerette Police Department building on Canal Street as the Juandre Gilliam Law Enforcement Center. 

Alderman Clarence Clark introduced the agenda item to the board, and said he had been working with town attorney Roger Hamilton for the past year in trying to rename the building. 

“Over the past year, I’ve been working with Mr. Hamilton on trying to come up with an ordinance to rename the police station operates under to be renamed in memory of Office Juandre Gilliam, who was killed in the line of duty April 8, 2015, while conducting his law enforcement duties in town,” Clark said. 

Gilliam, who was 22 at the time of his death, died while in pursuit of 21-year-old Antre Joseph for a traffic violation. According to information from Louisiana State Police Troop I at the time, Gilliam apparently lost control on St. Peter Road just south of Louisiana 182, ran off the roadway to the left, struck a culvert and overturned his vehicle on the St. Mary and Iberia parish line.

The Jeanerette Police Department and town officials regularly held events remembering Gilliam.

The board unanimously voted for the measure, which received applause from family and audience members after its passage. 

“I know Juandre was a nice and generous person, and he is truly missed by our department,” Jeanerette Mayor Aprill Foulcard said.