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St. Tammany Council adopts resolution to partner with district attorney on budget oversight
Summary
The St. Tammany Parish Council unanimously approved Resolution C-7080 to form a Transparency and Resource Accountability Committee in partnership with the District Attorney's Office. The DA's office will provide forensic-accounting support and data to help the council and parish administration review departmental budgets ahead of the 2026 budget.
The St. Tammany Parish Council adopted Resolution C-7080 on a unanimous vote with five members absent to form a Transparency and Resource Accountability Committee in partnership with the District Attorney's Office.
District Attorney Colin Sims told the council the partnership will provide independent financial analysis and data to help the council and the parish administration evaluate budgets and dedicated funds ahead of the 2026 budget cycle. "Our role in this is...as a fact finder, and information collector," Sims said, adding the office will present information in "a digestible format" for decision-makers.
The resolution, introduced at a special council meeting, tasks the committee with reviewing accounts selected by the council and delivering findings to council members, the parish president and other parties. Sims said the DA's office already employs an analyst with prior Federal Bureau of Investigation experience whom he described as a forensic accountant; the office plans to bring additional subject-matter experts depending on the account types under review.
Council member Tanner moved adoption of the resolution; Council member Corbin seconded. The motion passed "unanimous with 5 absent," as recorded by the clerk. The council did not detail implementation timelines at the meeting. Sims and council members characterized the office's role as informational only, not a policymaking or enforcement arm of the council's budget process.
Council members who spoke in favor said the work will increase transparency and public confidence in spending decisions. Sims said the office would give "full access" to the parish president and to council leadership to the analyses produced.
Next steps discussed at the meeting include forming the committee, identifying accounts for initial review and adding outside members with technical expertise as needed. The council did not vote on specific committee membership at the meeting.
The resolution text was identified on the meeting agenda as "Council Series C-7080."
