With the budget processes nearly wrapped up, both councils now pivot to rolling forward their respective property tax rates, which would increase tax bills. Property values have risen substantially since the last assessment year, and LCG’s finance department has requested both sides roll forward their respective millages to keep up with the increased demand for LCG’s services across the parish.
Here is a selection of items on the agendas for this week’s meetings of the City and Parish councils. To see the full agendas, check out the links below:
Lafayette 101
Roll Forward
Rolling forward allows the councils to set a new maximum tax rate above what voters originally authorized when the rate was passed.
Parish Council
Final Adoption
No significant items.
Introduction
Roll forward. Four ordinances all deal with slightly different aspects of a potential roll forward to reset parish property tax rates. The most impactful ordinance establishes a roll forward of all major millages that make up parish property taxes, setting a new limit for parish millages. Due to property assessments increasing parishwide, this would result in higher property taxes.
ARPA deadline. The parish has both unspent and/or unobligated ARPA funds that need to be moved around to meet ARPA deadlines — the earliest of which is an obligation deadline at the end of the year. The parish is shifting $8.34 million to avoid having to return any ARPA funding.
Appointments
Library Board of Control. One seat on the Lafayette Parish Library Board of Control is open for appointment by the council. It is a five-year term starting Oct.1 of this year. There are four candidates for the position, including incumbent Daniel Kelly. The library board will also have another vacancy on Nov. 1.
City Council
Final Adoption
Fire station project adjustments. LCG plans to transfer $200,000 meant for a Fire Station #5 project to a renovation project at Fire Station #2. The renovations are improvements and touch-ups on the building and surrounding lot.
Golf greens. This ordinance shifts $35,000 in funds to pay for upgrades at the Jay & Lionel Hebert Municipal Golf Course. The transfer combines $25,000 in city fund balance and $10,000 from a greens restoration project.
Introduction
Amendment to STR ban. The city is attempting to push back the start day for the ban on short-term rentals for RS zoning districts, currently set for Oct. 6. Instead, the new deadline for shutting down or getting a permit for a short-term rental within these districts would be Jan. 31, 2025.
Suspending old raise schedule. For Municipal Fire and Police civil service employees, the city is suspending the 2% conditional incentive pay raise, to accommodate the new fire and police pay plans.
Roll forward. The city, like the parish, is setting up to roll forward millage rates. A roll forward would slightly increase millage rates, setting the city’s new maximum millage rates for the current assessment period. In its letter to the city, the finance department requested a full roll forward to keep city tax collections on pace with demand for city services.
ARPA deadline. Like the parish, the city has unspent and/or unobligated ARPA funds. Due to the end-of-year obligation deadline and eventual spending deadlines, the city is moving $14.3 million within city projects and funds to avoid having to return ARPA grant money.
MLK sidewalk improvement. The city plans to improve sidewalks on MLK Jr. Drive from the NW Evangeline Thruway to Lincoln Street, declaring it a public necessity that allows the city to buy or take property to complete the project.
Joint Items
Resolutions
Acadiana Open Channel. The councils plan to acknowledge AOC’s budget and vote to approve LCG funding. Currently, LCG funds 35% of AOC’s budget, roughly $378,402 next fiscal year.
Final Adoption
Housing counseling. Through the Jessie L. Taylor Center, Lafayette provides housing counseling by federally certified housing counselors. This ordinance authorizes the certified counselors to continue to perform workshops and counseling services. It also gives M-P Boulet the power to negotiate grants and agreements for the program.
Property donations. Donations of adjudicated property were delayed at the last meeting after both councils requested that representatives from the groups address the council before they approve the donations:
- True Friends. LCG will donate two parcels of land at 409 Lamar St. to the True Friends Society of Lafayette. The plots are empty, but True Friends’ proposed plan is to make the land donated by the ordinance into a memorial park and garden.
- Gethsemane. LCG will donate two adjudicated properties to Gethsemane Church of God in Christ. The church plans to use both plots, 319 Eleventh St. and 712 Peach St., to expand the church campus.
Introduction
Suspending old raise schedule. To accommodate the new raise schedule, LCG is suspending conditional 2% pay increases in old ordinances impacting the city marshal and municipal city service staff.
ARPA deadline. Joint ARPA funds within LCG are facing the same end-of-year obligation deadline as city and parish funds. LCG is moving funds to meet deadlines and avoid returning any ARPA funds.
Mass notification software. To fund the acquisition of a mass emergency notification system for the parish, LCG is moving $70,000 from General Accounts-EXTAPP-LCVC to the Innovation Technology Department.