KEN KREFFT
Shreveport is in line to receive a large amount of largesse from Uncle Sam as its portion of the new $1.9 trillion in the so-called Covid-19 relief funding. More specifically, a part of $350 billion for states, counties and cities. Shreveport might receive about $45 million. When is not clear, but eventually. How it should be
spent, invested and appropriated into budgetary ordinances will be explored. There are many possibilities how to do spend this. I begin by reviewing around $34.74 million in “Unfunded Needs” included in the city’s 2021 General Fund Budget. There are so many: fire and dump trucks, police cruisers, garbage packers, IT equipment, a new roof for the convention center, personnel positions, training and several more. The city prioritizes such nonfunded items only within a given department. I have tried -- admittedly, so far without success -- to have the city prioritize all unfunded needs, regardless of which department requested it.
Should a half-million-dollar fire pumper take precedence over four packers at $125K each? Does the convention center roof at about $5 million trump 10 half-million-dollar fire pumpers? Many choices. Should the city add even more to its general fund operating budget reserve? Should it give pay raises? Public safety?
All employees? COLAs? Lump sum checks? Tough picks.
What about retired city workers, both public safety and other retirees? Might unfunded accrued liabilities be addressed? Might there be sufficient funds to renovate three to four fire stations? I suggest that citizens be heard by contacting the mayor and the council member who represents them. I’d love to add funds to the Streets Special Revenue Fund, which was cut during pandemicrelated reductions. Call a public hearing on this.
THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE March 12 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.