LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / October 11, 2000

HAHNVILLE – St. Charles Parish President Albert Laque submitted hisproposed consolidated operating and capital budget for 2001 to the parish council Monday, and if the news about the anticipated sewer rate increase wasn’t bad enough, there’s more to come.

Laque’s budget message stated that the proposed Wastewater Department budget is hinged on the council raising sewer rates from $1.80 to $4.05 per1,000 gallons. “Without that assumption, the wastewater fund’s 2001budget will not be balanced, as required by the parish’s Home Rule Charter,” Laque said.

And there’s more.

The parish water rate is likely to increase soon, as are trash collection and recycling fees.

Laque said expansion of the east bank waterworks system and major improvements on the west bank system will be necessary in the next 12-18 months. Earlier this year Laque commissioned a water rate study, theresults of which “will be coming at any time,” Laque told the council.

What’s more, the proposed Solid Waste Collection and Disposal budget is similarly based on a rate increase of $1.64 per unit, from $11.43 to $13.07,but the exact increase will depend on the new contract price, yet to be determined. Laque noted the contract cost of disposal will increase inJanuary from $27.50 per ton to $28.33 per ton.However, this will not provide enough money to cover the lawsuit filed by Waste Management of Louisiana against the parish, should it be successful in recovering $145,150 which the parish withheld in 1996 for breach of contract.

Finally, the recycling program fee is expected to not be self-supporting again next year. That program currently costs the parish $1,500 per month aboveactual fee collections.

An increase to that service charge, Laque added, should be combined with a comprehensive plan during the next 12 months to address required rate increases for all parish services.

Laque’s budget message continued that the parish’s ending fund balance in Capital Project Funds will decrease by $7.3 million by the end of 2001.Proceeds from the 1996 one-cent sales tax bond issue will be depleted during 2001, therefore funds to pay for necessary drainage improvements identified by the East and West Bank Master Drainage Plans will require new funding sources.

The General Fund’s revenue sources are likewise drying up, with the state tobacco tax suspended this year, where it previously provided more than $67,000 each year. Also, sales tax revenue, generating 51 percent of theGeneral Fund’s budget, decreased by more than $2 million from 1998 to 2000.

Laque said the proposed ending fund balance equals only five months of general government operations. Overall, total General Fund expensesproposed for 2001 are 2.3 percent higher than actual 1999. The largestincrease is in personnel, with many departments spending 30 percent more since 1999.

Laque said he is proposing budgeted expenditures for 2001 less than that of 2000, but further reductions will be required by 2002 if revenues are not increased.

The Parish Council has scheduled budget hearings Oct. 16 at 9 a.m., Oct. 19at 6 p.m. and Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. All hearings will be held in the councilchambers in the courthouse at Hahnville.

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