Board Wants Retreat
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
St. Landry Parish school board members are hoping that a pending financial retreat approved last week will assist them in developing a strategy that alleviates projected long range budgetary problems.
“We need a plan and go back over each (revenue and expense) category so we can meet our budget. That’s our responsibility,” board vice-president Joyce Haynes said during a regular Thursday meeting before the Board approved holding the retreat.
It’s unclear when the retreat will be scheduled and whether the scope of the fiscal summit will cover more than several hours.
However, all board members are in agreement that they need a more in-depth approach to examine finances in order to handle a projected operating fund deficit that could reach as much as $6.4 million in 2025-26, according to projections.
The District is also hoping voters parishwide will approve a 9.9 increase in property tax millage in order to support permanent employee pay raises of $2,500 annually in addition to providing more revenue for maintenance and capital outlay projects, especially for facilities.
In February internal auditor Casey Ardoin presented the Committee Of The Whole Board with a 2024-25 report that shows the district needs to increase revenues in order to avoid financial distress.
Just what board members plan to discuss when the date for the fiscal retreat is finally scheduled remains uncertain, but Timothy Carron, an internal auditor for the District, said the tax and financial departments are prepared to provide any information the Board needs in order to create a clearer financial picture.
Haynes told the other board members that she would like to compare the 2025-26 budget with last year’s budget.
Board member Bianca Vedell said the District is faced with a number of financial decisions.
In addition to the millage vote scheduled May 16, Vedell said the Board needs to consider whether it is financially prudent to adopt a four-day work week and what areas of the budget need to be further examined.
“We need to talk about (board) members’ responsibilities, see where we are, submit some of our ideas and what our needs are,” Vedell added.
Board president Randy Wagley said he has already previewed the fiscal retreat concept with the State Legislative Auditor so that the retreat will be guided by prescribed discussion parameters.
How the retreat discussions will proceed, Wagley said, is something that will be determined.
“The board has a legal obligation to read and interpret a budget. I just don’t know how much depth will be involved (at the retreat),” said Wagley.
Wagley agreed with Louisiana Federation of Teachers parish president Willie Singleton Guillory that the retreat will be open to the public, although no voting will occur.
