BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
How important is a proposed citywide, 1-cent Opelousas sales tax renewal scheduled later this year and where are the revenues that have been apparently appropriated for the municipal library?
Those and other questions were asked of a city auditor and Mayor Julius Alsandor on Monday night during an Opelousas Board of Alderman Budget Committee held at City Hall.
One thing is certain, said Alsandor and Casey Ardoin, who represented Kolder, Slaven and Company, who performed the 2024 city audit that was sent to the State Legislative Auditor Feb. 28.
Passage of the sales tax, first passed in 1975, is crucial in order for the city to maintain any sufficient level of services, according to Ardoin and Alsandor.
Budget Committee members, alderwoman Delita Broussard and others who attended the meeting were also interested in determining whether the city still has access to a projected $500,000 that will be used to address structural conditions at the library located between Grolee and Union streets.
Alsandor told the Committee that the $500,000 dedicated for library rehab is part of a $1.5 million state legislative funding package that has not been received by the city.
Broussard told the Committee that during a 2023 Board of Alderman meeting, the Board was told that there was $500,000 available from American Rescue Act funding for the library project.
However Ardoin said there is no evidence that he found in the 2024 audit which shows that $500,000 in ARA revenues was received by the city in COVID funding for the library.
The Board of Aldermen voted to put approval of the 2024 city audit on the regular monthly meeting later this month.
Proposed Sales Tax
Alsandor said the sales tax will expire May 31, but he is unsure at this point when a renewal election will be called.
Ardoin said that in 2024, the tax provided the city with 29 percent or $5.7 million to cover employee, infrastructure and general services citywide.
“It will be extremely crucial if (the tax renewal) is not passed,” Ardoin said.
The city’s 2024 governmental fund, Ardoin said, experienced a $95,000 deficit, while the utility funds showed a $2 million surplus.
Library Grant
Alsandor told the Committee that the required match for the library will cost the city about $211,000. The $1 million that has been assigned to the grant involving the library will be used for the proposed Phase 2 Civic Center building in South City Park.
Alsandor was unable to tell the Committee when the grant money for the library and Civic Center will be available.
Alderman Charles Cummings said he wants to ensure that the $500,000 scheduled for library renovations is a protected amount.
Broussard said a library elevator used to take patrons to the second floor is inoperable. Broussard added that a malfunctioning elevator could cause the state fire marshal to close the library or receive a non-compliance citation or fine.
Other Comments
Steve Picou, who attended the meeting, complimented the Committee for calling the meeting.
Picou said the city administration has attempted to evade public scrutiny associated with the construction process for the Civic Center and Donald Gardner Stadium projects.
“This project (in the park) is the largest ever for the city, yet there is not a clear plan or economic feasibility study that has been put on the table so there can be better input by the people,” Picou said.
“Plans (for the projects) have been done behind closed doors for the past three years. No one has done the proper planning. I encourage (the Board) to put the mayor’s feet to the fire,” Picous said.
