Finance Discussions Continue
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
After a Louisiana State Bonding Commission delayed a $4.6 million funding request from parish president Jessie Bellard last week, the St. Landry Parish wants to revisit discussions about the condition of their finances.
Council members voted unanimously Tuesday night to reintroduce a previously defeated ordinance that allows Bellard to again ask state officials for more funding in order to help stabilize parish finances.
During the meeting Bellard advised the Council that he has now hired a financial advisor.
The Council voted 5-4 last Wednesday night to approve bonding the $4.6 million, but the parish charter document which regulates all Council decisions, maintains that ordinance proposals require seven votes in order to be approved.
Bond Commission members have asked Bellard to return to Baton Rouge next month in order for him to provide a clearer understanding about the ability of the parish to repay the $4.6 million.
Finance Committee chairman Harold Taylor spoke at the Bond Commission meeting last Thursday and indicated that Bellard needs to launch a complete and independent financial review by an accounting firm in order to obtain a clearer picture of parish revenues and expenses.
The Bond Commission appearance by Taylor apparently unnerved some Council members according to a text message thread obtained by St. Landry Now.com.
Several Council members texting among themselves, criticized the necessity for Taylor to make statements last Thursday before the Bond Commission.
“We’re in need of a Divine intervention,” Council member Mildred Thierry said in one of her text message responses.
On Tuesday night Taylor presented the Council with a request for the parish administration to provide more clarity about the 2024 and 2025 budgetary years.
The request by Taylor includes asking the administration to provide accounting records for all income, expenses and current bank balances in addition to the salaries of all parish employees.
Taylor’s requests also seek for the administration to prepare a list of all current long-term and short-term debts, along with copies of signed legal agreements supporting the debts.
The Council should also know, Taylor said, if there is accounting information which includes identifying all current unpaid liabilities and copies of contracts between parish government and third parties.
Following the Tuesday night meeting, Council member Faltery Jolivette said the request by Taylor was instrumental in the Council decision to re-vote on the $4.6 million bond proposal,
Bellard said following the meeting that the parish is shackled in 2025 by financing mandated state expenses, which includes paying all expenses for parish inmates.
The parish, said Bellard, expects to repay the $4.6 million using an anticipated $3 million in solar farm revenues in 2026.
Bellard added the $4.6 million is additionally needed to pay back $1.3 million in bond money from 2024.
The parish Bellard said, is not in financial exigency.
“We have cash that is available. Just because you show a deficit doesn’t mean you’re broke,” said Bellard.
