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Council moves budget amendment tied to new sales tax levy and hears tax‑millage ordinance; details, vote tallies not in transcript
Summary
The New Iberia City Council held public hearings on a budget amendment tied to a new sales tax levy to fund increases in fire department pay and on an ordinance levying 2025 property tax millages, with council discussion describing the salary figure as an estimate.
The council considered two related fiscal items: a special ordinance amending the budget to reflect a new sales tax levy and to provide increased salaries and benefits for the fire department, and an ordinance levying millages on the 2025 tax bill for property subject to city taxation.
For the budget amendment (listed as Special Ordinance No. 2024‑2025‑15), the mayor opened a public hearing and a motion to open was made by Councilmember David Merrill and seconded by Councilmember Ron Davis. The meeting record indicates there were no public comments, the public hearing was closed by motion and the council proceeded to the main motion to adopt the ordinance. During discussion a councilmember asked whether the "quarter million dollars" figure was an estimate; a staff member replied, "Just an estimate."
The council then moved to Ordinance No. 2025‑12, levying millages on the 2025 tax bill. That item also opened and closed a public hearing with no public comments logged in the transcript. Councilmembers emphasized they intended to remain neutral on increasing mills and to make the public aware of the outcome.
The transcript records the motions to open and close the hearings and the motion to adopt each ordinance and notes roll calls; however, the provided meeting text does not include vote tallies for these items, so the record here does not state formal adoption.
Key clarifications recorded during discussion:
- The budget amendment included reference to an approximate additional "quarter million dollars" for the fire department salary and benefit increases; the sum was described as an estimate in council discussion. - Council members repeatedly instructed staff to publicly state whether there would be an increase in millage; one councilmember said, "One of the only things we want to make sure that we stand neutral and not increase the no millages. Let the public know that."
Motions to open, close and adopt were made and seconded in the meeting; the transcript does not contain the final vote tallies for these agenda items.
