Nov. 11
November 11, 2009
Ms. Mae Ella Marie Carlos
November 13, 2009Morgan City Mayor Tim Matte has a wish list for the state Legislature; however, solving the shortfall in the city’s budget for next year isn’t on it.
Among the projects Matte intends to ask state lawmakers to consider when they reconvene in 2010 are:
• $4.3 million to build 12 Cajun-style cabins on Lake End Parkway
• $1.2 million for drainage improvements (culverts) along Brashear Avenue
• $1.5 million for drainage improvements (culverts) along La. Highway 70
• $2 million to improve the city’s water system
• $20 million to construct a bridge to Avoca Island
• $1.8 million to light the E.J. Lionel Grizzaffi bridge
“I know we won’t get all of them funded, but we’ve got them listed in priority with the Cajun cabins at the top of the list. This would definitely be an asset our tourism activity in the area,” said Matte.
Seth Thomas, the city’s director of recreation, said designs for the cabins, which will be situated along the shore of Lake Palourde, calls for each unit to include three bedrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, bath screened porch and a deck.
Matte said that operations at Lake End Park have “virtually been carrying the whole city this year.”
The news isn’t as positive for the city’s budget. By year’s end, Matte projects Morgan City’s budget could be left with as little as $237,000 in its coffers.
The mayor said a recent drop in sales tax revenue has presented “significant challenges to our ability to fund a level of service to which our citizens have become accustomed.”
The only area spending can be cut, according to Matte, is personnel costs.
“My philosophy has always been that we should employ the personnel needed to get the job done,” he said. “Eliminating people might sound to some like a viable alternative. But if it’s the police officer or the fireman who would be sent to your house, that’s not the person anyone wants to be eliminated.”
Matte has since requested current staffing and sick leave policies to be reexamined as a means of further reducing expenses, along with cutting overtime.
“Our shortage in personnel in the fire department continues to challenge our ability to fully staff without exceeding our budgeted amount for overtime,” the mayor said.
Matte has said recently that he believes raising the city’s sales tax percentage won’t generate enough funds to compensate for the loss. Currently it is at 8 percent.
Not two months ago, Matte told Morgan City residents that an across-the-board rate increase was needed for all utilities in order to compensate for the city’s dwindling sales tax revenue. Since 1951, the Morgan City Council has used revenue from its utility payments to fuel its general fund.
“Things have come to a head. There are no more hidden pots of money,” he said at the time.
A review of the September 2009 budget – one month after the utility rate increase was enacted – shows the city making $1.486 million compared to a projected profit of $1.587 million.
