St Tammany Government says just prior to the 2025 Proposed Budget being submitted a few weeks ago, President Mike Cooper and members of the Parish Council met with the District Attorney and Judges of the 22nd JDC to present their respective budgets, with the clear understanding that conversations to identify additional funding were still to come.
Both branches of Parish Government independently reviewed the budget to identify possible sources of additional funding and to develop plans to address the current financial challenges. Members from the Council and President Cooper then met to compare notes and work to develop a plan for addressing the current budget challenges.
At a Special Council Meeting in November, a mutually drafted Budget Amendment will be presented for discussion that fully funds the judicial system for 2025, in addition to other budgetary matters to be considered by the Council. The anticipated Budget Amendment, however, did require some tough choices. St. Tammany Parish Government will be using remaining available fund balances, reducing reserves and support for Safe Haven, and deferring funding for some projects, repairs and maintenance.
According to Parish Government the future depends upon the Rededication and Extension of the Sales Tax in order to provide sustainable funding for public safety agencies for the next several decades.
At its regular monthly council meeting next week, the Parish Council is expected to call for a proposition to be placed on the March 29, 2025 ballot.
