Development News for Bastrop, Louisiana

Council Debates 2026-2027 Budgets, Police Staffing, and Financial Transparency

The council discussed the proposed 2026-2027 general, sewer, and sales tax budgets. For the sewer budget, revenues and expenditures are both projected at $2.5 million, with a $386,000 draw from the fund balance. For the sales tax budget, revenues and expenditures are both projected at $2.6 million, with over $1 million from the fund balance for capital projects. The general fund budget discussions highlighted adjustments to departmental allocations, including creating part-time youth summer program positions. The process for budget adoption, including public hearings and potential amendments, was outlined, with a deadline of June 30th. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the police department's budget, specifically the allocation of funds between regular salaries and overtime, and the discrepancy between budgeted slots and actual staffing levels. The administration emphasized tracking overtime to monitor departmental efficiency and encourage recruitment for full-time positions. The council debated the merits of separating overtime from base salaries in the budget, with some advocating for its inclusion in regular salaries and others supporting the administration's approach for better tracking and accountability.