Courthouse security questioned in Lafourche budget

Members of the Lafourche Parish Council called a $60,000 allocation into question at last night’s special budget meeting for the 2007 fiscal year.

Two members of the council questioned an account in the general fund, which consumes $7.5 million of the $50.9 million total budget.

According to parish documents, the general fund receives a greater variety of revenue from taxes, licenses, permits and grants than other funds. The general fund also finances a wider range of activities than other parish funds.

Councilman Mark Atzenhoffer of District 5 questioned the allocation of $60,000 to a “miscellaneous” account.

State District Judge Jerome Barbera explained the money is earmarked for guards at the courthouse.

“Why are we responsible for courthouse security,” Atzenhoffer asked.

According to Barbera, the court has paid for security measures in the courthouse building since 1997. The sheriff provides one security officer and the court supplies the officer’s equipment and salary, he said. The court also pays the salaries of two part-time detail officers.

“We are going to be paying almost $80,000 this year alone,” Barber explained. “We can’t afford that anymore. We are running out of money and there is just not enough income to do it.”

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Weber has agreed to provide the labor but there must be a contribution made by the parish to help financially support this expense, according to the judge.

Barbera said, a state Attorney Generals opinion states the entity responsible for security of the building is its owner, which in this case is the parish.

Barbera said that both the court and the parish clerk of court will earmark $20,000 each for this project but the parish should be responsible for the remaining $60,000.

Councilman Tommy Lasseigne of District 4 questioned the sheriff’s office share of the remaining $60,000.

Barbera explained, “The law doesn’t require the sheriff to do the security. The law only requires him to make the courtroom secure. Building security is not his responsibility.”

The money will provide for two full-time security officers and two detail officers for days that jury trials take place, he said.

Barbera said the parish should some day takeover full financial responsibility for courthouse security.

The proposed budget for the Lafourche Parish Government is divided into seven major categories, which determine all appropriations for the 2007 fiscal year. The second half of the annual budget meeting will be held tonight at the Lafourche Parish Council Barrios Center in Raceland at 6 p.m.