Here is a selection of items on the agendas for this week’s meetings of the City and Parish Councils.
City Council
GEOFF DAILY: Lafayette mayor-presidents have long used vetoes to appropriate money. That may be illegal.
Legislative bodies appropriate money, not the executive branch. But that’s exactly what’s been happening at LCG for more than a decade in conflict with a pair of attorney general opinions.
8 min read
10/19 Council Preview: Raises for Lafayette police and fire; police chief termination; ARPA funding for Faith House; redistricting
Here’s a selection of items on the agendas for this week’s meetings of the City and Parish councils.
9 min read
10/5 Council Preview: North Lafayette Redevelopment Authority veto override, ARPA money for drainage and Faith House, rent assistance, new LUS customer charges
A busy schedule finds the councils tackling another veto override. LUS customers could see a new annual charge on their bills.
8 min read
9/21 Council Preview: Setting millage rates, more money for drainage and rent assistance, and a host of property assessment challenges
Here’s a selection of items on the agendas for this week’s meetings of the City and Parish councils.
8 min read
OPINION: Uncertainty is at an all-time high. Lafayette needs a fiscally responsible budget.
The roles have reversed from the 2020 budget cycle, and now the City Council ought to play budget hawk.
9 min read
OPINION: Fueled by debt, Guillory’s budget proposes largest capital spending spree in city’s history
Mayor-President Guillory wants the City Council to approve a $406 million five year capital improvement program that would saddle the city with $180 million in new debt. Yet he hasn’t revealed plans, garnered public input, or addressed long-term maintenance liabilities for most of these projects. The City Council should tread carefully.
7 min read
8/3 Council Preview: Willow Street jail, charter commission, City-Parish Alignment Commission appointments
Some controversial items are up for consideration this week, like declaring a new Willow Street jail a public necessity and calling a charter commission to examine further changes to Lafayette’s home rule charter.
6 min read
OPINION: Guillory’s first proposed budget was too bearish, his second is too bullish
Projecting historically big increases in sales tax revenue, he is championing a quarter billion dollar increase in the city’s five-year capital outlay plan, including $132 million of new debt.
6 min read
OPINION: Lafayette’s councils should reject Guillory’s proposed Rescue Plan budget and start over
The lack of engagement might be forgivable if the proposal was amazing, but it’s not. We need to start over from scratch.
6 min read
7/20 Council Preview: Introducing budgets, building a new jail and redeveloping the Oil Center
Up for votes and discussion are a host of issues, including next year’s budget, how to spend the $83.5 million of fiscal recovery money, taking first steps to build a new jail, rezoning the Oil Center, investing $1 million in parks, and more.
7 min read
OPINION: The City and Parish councils need marriage counseling
The marriage that is consolidated government is crumbling before our eyes, with both the City and Parish Councils failing to follow the fundamentals of healthy relationships. Something’s got to change.
7 min read