Comments by the two Toms (Arceneaux and Dark) at this week’s Shreveport City Council budget hearing were not news to those who have followed Shreveport’s loss of residents, major infrastructure challenges and the “worry about it later” mentality of prior mayoral administrations.
Simply put, the city’s income has not matched inflation, needed contributions to the city’s severely (40%) underfunded pension system, and the replacement costs of city vehicles including EMS and garbage trucks.
These factors do not address the growing monster at the city’s fiscal door, --the EPA Consent decree and its ballooning costs for compliance. Past administrations have kicked this budget “can down the road” along with other budget challenges that have now hit the proverbial wall for the Arceneaux administration.
The current council must adopt the 2026 budget by December 15. They cannot expect sudden pots of gold to come down from heaven to appear to satisfy the city’s financial needs.
A new factor contributing to 2026 budget restraints are the large rent payments for temporary Shreveport Police Department (SPD) facilities on North Market Street, Kingston Road, St. Vincent Avenue, Shreveport-Barksdale Highway and South Point office complex.
The new North Market SPD substation will open early next year and that will provide some SPD budget relief.
The third substation at St. Vincent and 70th Street will not be ready for occupation until late 2026 at the earliest, and most likely the first quarter of 2027.
Demolition and rebuilding of a new SPD headquarters at 1234 Texas Avenue is a two years (plus) project.
There is some good news. No increase in property taxes or utility rates is needed to fund the proposed $707 million dollar budget.
As always, the budget contains bad news. It does not provide employee raises, new garbage trucks and other essential fleet replacements, or a reduction in the unfunded pension plan deficit.
Wailing and gnashing of teeth by council members makes for good political theatre, but it will not solve budget issues. Here are two examples.
The Council has an overstaffed and overpaid clerk’s office which provides much less service than the meagerly staffed and funded commission’s clerk’s office. Facts prove this—just look at the number of total meetings of the Council versus the Commission. One of the highly paid employees has a do nothing job description matched only by his do nothing performance.
Another example is the funding of the Paint Your Heart Out program. The costs for this program have far exceeded the budgeted amount. This means that continuation of Paint Your Heart Out will mean LESS houses repainted in the inner city which hits a big nerve with many council members..
Other examples exist when it comes to funding of some city programs and local charities.
There are always holy grails for elected officials. Meaningful budget reductions or re-allocation of proposed budget line items are not likely with five of the current council eligible to run for reelection next year along with Mayor Tom.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.