The Shreveport City Council must adopt the 2018 budget for the city by December 15. It is expected to be approved at the regular meeting on Tuesday, December 12.
The proposed General Fund Budget is for $221,214,100.
Four amendments have been offered to this budget.
The first by Councilman Oliver Jenkins is to decrease funding for the Shreveport Caddo Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) by $195,000. This amendment will fund the MPC in the amount recommended for the city in the MPC Financial Sustainability Study.
A companion amendment has been offered by Council Chairman James Flurry. This amendment is to fund the MPC for 90 days only at the city level recommended by the MPC study.
Jenkin’s amendment is expected to pass with no real controversy. There will probably be discussion on Flurry’s amendment although it will probably pass since it is only interim versus permanent funding.
Council Willie Bradford has an amendment to fund a $300,000 economic disparity. This amendment will no doubt be controversial and its passage may depend on whether or not Councilwoman Stephanie Lynch’s recent surgery will keep her from the meeting.
Word is that Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler will veto any budget amendment for a disparity study. Even though there has been very little to practically no public discussion on a disparity study, Councilman Bradford has been pushing this issue all year.
This vote could be as controversial as the failed sports arena complex that failed earlier this year.
The fourth amendment is to increase the personal services budget by $150,000. This increase covers the 3% health insurance increase for city employees and maintains the 2017 health insurance rates. This amendment is expected to pass with little discussion.
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