Finance staff outlines 2026 zero‑based budget plan, fund balances and hiring review

Annie (Finance department presenter) presented an overview of the St. Tammany Parish 2026 budget process to the finance committee, telling members the administration will deliver the proposed 2026 budget to the council on Oct. 2 and that departments were required to submit detailed, line‑item requests under a zero‑based budgeting approach.

The presentation said the finance department began the budget cycle in April and May, provided departments with standardized instructions and forms, and asked departments to justify all operating, payroll, capital asset and project requests. The goal, Annie said, is to ‘‘oversee taxpayer dollars wisely’’ and to spend funds “in accordance with any tax propositions or laws’’ while seeking efficiency.

Why it matters: the parish faces continuing pressure from state‑mandated criminal justice costs and a constrained general fund. Finance staff said the 2026 process is intended to surface all requests from scratch so the council and administration can choose priorities with clear, line‑item detail rather than rely on prefilled prior budgets.

Key points from the presentation

- Zero‑based entry and justification: For 2026 departments were asked to begin with zero in each budget line, then add only items they can justify. Supporting detail must include quantities, unit costs, descriptions and written justifications as well as…