Terrebonne OKs $207M spending

Improvement to existing roads and drainage projects – as well as continued coastal restoration efforts – make up the bulk of new expenditures approved by the Terrebonne Parish Council last week.

Emloyee raises are not expected, although Parish President Michel Claudet is leaving the possibility open. A final answer to that question should come by year’s end.

“We do anticipate doing something for the employees,” Claudet said Monday.

Parish employees have received neither cost-of-living nor merit raises for at least two years.

Overall parish operations with the exception of construction will run about $197 million.

The projected cost for drainage is estimated at nearly $16 million.

Parish revenues are expected to come in at $193.9 million, less than the 2013 number of $396.8 million. Parish officials said one reason for the discrepancy is that certain grants, which resulted in the 2013 figures, have not yet been secured, although they may be later in the year.

“Despite the parish’s vulnerability to hurricanes, and land loss, our local economy continues to grow,” Claudet’s annual budget statement says. “During the first eight months of 2013 sales taxes, which are an indicator of economic activity, increased 8 percent from the same period in 2012. Although we are optimistic that this trend will continue, this administration continues to implement conservative budget practices and maintaining status quo budgets whenever possible.”

A few last-minute changes were made to the budget prior to Wednesday’s passage. They reflect staffing changes in the courts and the Registrar of Voters office, where proposed but unfilled positions were eliminated.

Also, $120,000 was added from the General Fund to aid three festivals. The parish’s Independence Day celebration received $25,000; the Best of the Bayou festival $75,000 and the Rougarou festival $20,000.

The only area of Claudet’s budget that resulted in controversy was the elimination of funding for the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority, with dollars previously budgeted to the agency being retained in the general fund. The parish now plans to create its own economic development program through the Planning and Zoning Department.

Last week’s approval of the budget did not spark any further efforts to save TEDA, however. That aspect of the budget along with all others drew no public comment Wednesday night.

New construction – much of which has already begun – includes a new juvenile detention center on La. Highway 311.

Various road closures I the parish, particularly in Houma and in Bourg, are the result of drainage and construction projects already underway are nearing completion.