Ville Platte’s city council, during a special meeting Tuesday, voted to adjust certain line items of the city’s budget while not making any net changes to the fund balance.
Mayor Jennifer Vidrine explained the city looked at its fund balances as of February 28 and saw where it could make changes as it edges closer to the end of the fiscal year on June 30. The changes came when the city identified those categories in the budget where funds were remaining and transferred those funds to categories with less money remaining.
According to the mayor, the overall expenses decreased $191,487.00, but the total revenues also decreased $191,487.00, which meant no net change. Part of the slide in revenues came from the city not collecting as much in utilities as was originally forecasted for the year.
Mayor Vidrine also explained the general fund decreased $384,926.00 before funds were transferred in and transferred out.
As the meeting progressed, the mayor outlined the line item changes in budget categories such as the 1975 Sales Tax, the 1984 Sales Tax, City Court, and Utility Fund while still stressing the changes meant no net change.
Because of the changes, the mayor said the city is looking to have a surplus at the end of the fiscal year “if everything comes in.” She added, “We’re still waiting on some of the grants. They may not come in by June 30.”
However, if the grant money is not received by then, the city is still expected to enjoy a surplus. Councilman Bryant Riggs commented it will not be as much of a “sexy” surplus as the city would enjoy if it received all the grant money.
The city now is preparing to start working on its new fiscal budget which will take effect on July 1. Mayor Vidrine urged the city councilmen who were present to start turning in their wish lists on projects in their districts for budgetary calculations.
Those budgetary calculations will also look at repairing or replacing the police unit which was damaged during Sunday’s shooting incident. Chief Neal Lartigue said, “We didn’t get an estimate on it yet. There was one bullet hole through the back door.”
Councilmen Riggs and Mike Perron then took the opportunity to commend the chief on his department’s actions during the incident which left one person dead and another wounded.
In the aftermath of Sunday’s events, Councilman Riggs said he would like to see money in the budget for a SWAT team here in the city.
The city council’s regular meeting for the month will be held Tuesday, April 16, at 5:00 p.m.
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TONY MARKS Associate Editor