Central committee debates how city will pay for policing after years of sheriff-provided coverage

Miss Mary Jane Marcantel urged the committee to consider redirecting part of a parish ad valorem millage so the City of Central can fund its own policing after decades of receiving services funded by parish taxes.

Marcantel, who has tracked the issue since 2019, said the sheriff—s smaller ad valorem millage of 3.73 mills produced about $20.4 million last year and proposed that a portion of that revenue be redirected to municipalities that now require their own policing. "You can thank Saint George for what brings you here today," Marcantel said, linking Central—s change in funding responsibility to other incorporations in the parish.

The committee spent more than an hour discussing the practical and legal implications of three broad options: a full-time Central Police Department (CPD) modeled at roughly $4.2 million a year, a contract with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff—s Office (EBRSO) that the sheriff proposed at about $2.515 million to start, and a hybrid model that keeps some CPD functions while contracting others. Committee members also reviewed projected revenue from a mayor—s court and other funding mechanisms.

Why it matters: Central has received extensive patrol services historically paid through parish millages. Under state and local practice discussed at the meeting, once an area incorporates the municipality becomes responsible for policing costs. Committee members said Central now faces the practical problem of identifying recurring funding to pay for a sustained police force and associated legacy costs.

Key details and numbers discussed were drawn from the presentation and public remarks. Marcantel stated the 3.73-mill levy produced about $20.4 million in the most recent fiscal year and suggested reallocating the smaller millage so municipalities receive revenue they currently subsidize via parish-wide taxes. Committee members and staff said the sheriff—s initial contract proposal to Central is $2,515,000; CPD proponents presented a full-time departmental cost of about $4,200,000. The CPD presentation estimated mayor—s-court revenue under current ticketing levels could generate roughly $254,887 in the past 12 months and projected a baseline revenue of about $947,550 if enforcement capacity increased; CPD supporters said total mayor—s-court receipts could reach about $1.3 million under enhanced enforcement.

Committee members raised several implementation questions: whether funds redirected from the sheriff—s millage would reduce the sheriff—s budget for parish-wide services; whether EBRSO could commit to a fixed, exclusive number of deputies dedicated only to Central; and whether a sheriff can legally bind successors by signing a multi-year contract (several 1977 court cases were cited as relevant precedent). Captain Dimblett reviewed the EBRSO contract language, noting the proposal avoids charging legacy pension costs to the city and would allow limited cost pass-throughs if pension or Medicare obligations increase. "The amount of the current proposal to begin is 2.515," Captain Dimblett said when summarizing the sheriff—s offer.

Several council members emphasized procedural limits. Councilwoman Wells stressed that any rededication of parish millage would require action beyond the city, including the metro council and mayor-president, and possibly a parishwide vote. "I think that eventually, Central would have to have a police department," Councilwoman Wells said, but she added that timing and recurring funding must be worked out carefully.

The committee did not adopt a policy or vote to change funding. Instead, members agreed to compile the analyses and present the four options and all discussed funding mechanisms to the full city council at its next meeting in two weeks. The chair said the committee—s role is to gather information and pass recommendations to the council for further deliberation. In addition to financial comparisons, committee members requested legal research about the sheriff—s authority to sign multi-year contracts and clarification of what specific services would be included under each scenario.

The meeting record shows several procedural motions (approval of minutes; a later motion to adjourn) and an initial motion to ask the council to consider rededication of the 3.73 mills (approximate revenue to Central estimated at $888,000) that was later withdrawn. The committee—s immediate direction was to present the compiled materials and options to the council rather than to approve a single course of action.

The council is scheduled to receive the committee—s updated materials at its next meeting; committee members and staff said further negotiations with EBRSO or CPD budget revisions would continue before any final contract or tax rededication is pursued.