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It took less than two minutes for the Terrebonne Parish Council to approve a new $202.6 million budget for fiscal year 2013. The operations and maintenance financial plan, which includes a five-year capital outlay, is a 4 percent increase from the $196.3 million budget of fiscal year 2012.
As the initial item on last Wednesday’s public hearing agenda, the budget was offered unanimous approval among eight council members. Councilwoman Christa Duplantis was unable to attend the meeting.
According to Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet, a 7 percent increase in sales tax revenue, from $75 million in 2011 to $80 million in 2012, helped justify the budget boost.
This leaves a 3 percent buffer between sales tax revenue alone and budgetary obligations.
“The difference between the $196 million and the $202 million is predominately a difference because of our sales tax increase,” Claudet said. “So, we have more money, but we are also putting more into capital projects.”
While the 2012 budget contained operating capital of $14.5 million, the 2013 budget increases that number to $20 million. This will help fund continued work on the Valhi and Bayou gardens extensions. Finances will also secure a new pump station and address drainage concerns in the Broadmoor and Lisa Park areas.
Claudet said while other Louisiana parishes have been faced with reductions, Terrebonne Parish exercised fiscal responsibility and is experiencing the benefits.
“What I think that shows is we are not building a bureaucracy,” Claudet said. “We are trying to get it so we can put some projects out. That to me is very important.”
Terrebonne has 858 full time employees. Although it made budgetary reductions in 2011 and 2012, primarily by not filling number of vacant jobs, parish priorities have focused on improving drainage issues and developing infrastructure.
During his administration, Claudet admitted he has capitalized on securing federal grants to help finance select parish projects, but said that money is not included in regular operations.
