Line for Line - 11/3/09

October and November are budget months in Parish Government meaning that the annual operating and capital budget is presented by the administration to the council. The budget generally goes through a review process called budget hearings or a budget summit, during which it may be amended, and then passed at the first council meeting in December of each year.

The budget is divided into two sections. The capital budget includes funds for capital projects such as all of the FEMA and bond funded work on our buildings, streets, parks, fire stations, etc. The operational budget includes funds to run all the various departments of the government such as the employees for the departments, the firefighters, the people who fix streets, water lines, sewer stations, lights, drainage issues, coastal projects. The operational budget pays for the utility costs to open buildings, the chemicals to spray for mosquitoes, the fuel to run the equipment for the repair work and grass cutting, and the upkeep of the gyms and parks for our citizens to access, and to pay for the pick-up and disposal of garbage. Obviously, the operation of some departments is more expensive than others.

Each department of the operational budget has a revenue side (how much money comes in from sales tax and property tax) and an expense side (how much will be spent). The largest part of the revenues comes from sales tax. In the budget process a projection of how much money will be received from sales tax revenues over the next year is calculated based on how much St. Bernard received in the previous year and the anticipated growth or reduction in buying opportunities in St. Bernard. When the anticipated growth or buying volume is low that means less sales tax, when it is high that means more sales tax. It is important to remember that historically half of the sales taxes that were generated in St. Bernard came from purchases at St. Bernard businesses by residents who drove into St. Bernard to shop.

Expenses in each department of government are much like that in a household- there are parts of the expense side of the budget that are absolute necessities, parts that are necessities, parts that are support mechanisms, and parts that are enhancements. When revenues do not meet expenses, adjustments have to be made and the discussion of what expenses fall into what category begin. Simply put- cuts in things like putting enough firefighters in stations to keep them open all the time, picking up garbage, people to cut grass, people to tear down blight, keeping parks open all become part of the discussion.

In the 2010 budget the operational budget is facing significant shortfalls. One potential way to address a part of the shortfall is to increase revenues from a different source. This week during early voting and on November 14, 2009 at the polls, you, the citizens, will decide if you will partner with parish government and pay 20.00 dollars per month for six years to help cover the costs of FIRE PROTECTION and SANITATION SERVICES. This fee WILL NOT be imposed on the senior population and the fee is for six years only- WITH NO EXTENSIONS. If you have questions, please call my office at 278-4227. We need your partnership to continue our recovery and growth.

God Bless,

Craig Taffaro, Jr.