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Council amends FY 2025—6 budget totals, then tables final adoption
Summary
Councilors voted to accept corrected budget totals provided by the finance director but deferred final adoption to allow publication of revised ordinance language and notice requirements under the city charter.
NATCHITOCHES, La. — The Natchitoches City Council on April 14 voted to amend the proposed fiscal 2025—6 budget totals and then tabled final adoption to a later meeting while staff completes required publication and corrections.
Finance Director Clarissa Brown Smith told the council the corrected totals reduce the general fund figure from the version introduced earlier to $21,800,000 and set the special/capital funds at $43,700,000; the proprietary utility fund was listed at $37,700,000. "I can reiterate what was discussed at the budget hearing that, there was a change from 22,000,000 to, 21,800,000 on the general fund, and then on the special fund from 44,000,000 to 43.7," she said.
After discussion about publication requirements and the city charter's timing, a councilmember moved to amend the budget using the finance director's numbers and that amendment passed by roll call. Immediately afterward a motion to table final adoption until the next meeting passed by roll call; council members said tabling would allow staff to prepare the corrected ordinance text and publish the three required notices in the city's official journal before final vote.
Council members emphasized several items included in the proposed budget: increased water line replacement funding (the mayor cited an increase from $700,000 to $900,000 for water system work), continued funding for a water treatment project to expand capacity, $650,000 cited for streets, and a $34,000 allocation to the Henry Rowe Flipper Foundation for housing projects. Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. said the budget "includes the water treatment project that we're working on" and that continuing those capital projects is important for service capacity and economic development.
The council instructed the finance director and city attorney to prepare amended ordinance language and publish required legal notices before the next meeting when the council will consider final adoption.
The matter was tabled; no final appropriation ordinance was adopted at the April 14 meeting.
