TARC incorporates clothing donations
December 10, 2014Our View: With elections over, it’s time to get started
December 10, 2014
The 2015 budget for the City of Thibodaux has been “cut down to the bone,” according to Council Administrator Lloyd “Chip” Badeaux, which means significant department changes may be unavoidable.
The council tapped into its reserve fund, moving $3 million to the 2015 budget. The total budget for the coming fiscal year is slightly more than $33 million.
With finances so tight, Badeaux said there is a chance for layoffs among city workers in the future.
“We are going to look at possibilities of reduced spending by looking at cutting in different departments,” Badeaux said. “The biggest issue we have is law enforcement; too many employees, too much insurance, too much retirement, just too much of everything.”
The council vowed at its Dec. 2 meeting to seek other means of funding to avoid cuts. Badeaux said he is confident the city will be able to pay its staff in the meantime.
“The administration has made a commitment to me that if there is no change or some sort of funding in the future for the 2016 budget, we will have to start cutting people,” he said. “It is still kind of up in the air, but I don’t believe it will be touched.”
At last week’s council meeting, Badeaux did say if the cuts had to be made in the coming year, those Thibodaux employees affected would be notified well in advance so they could begin searching for employment elsewhere.
MICHAEL HOTARD | THE TIMES
Thibodaux Council said goodbye to incumbent Councilman Eddie Hebert (pictured left). Eric Tabor has been elected to the seat. Councilman Lloyd “Chip” Badeaux (at right) and Councilman Chad Mire are pictured with Hebert.
