Parish President Matthew Jewell presented the proposed 2026 Saint Charles Parish consolidated operating and capital budget at a public hearing Oct. 28, asking the Parish Council to review a plan that prioritizes levy protection, drainage projects and major utility upgrades. The budget document shows $257,100,000 in governmental fund expenditures and projected governmental revenues of $185,800,000 supplemented by a $95,900,000 beginning fund balance.

Jewell said the budget allocates large sums to infrastructure: $61.5 million for levy protection projects, $32.2 million for public works and more than $130 million overall dedicated to public works and levy‑related capital projects. He listed named projects funded in the proposal, including the Engineers Canal Pump Station replacement, Primrose Canal bank stabilization, Paul Frederick and Kindler drainage improvements, and the Westbank sewer‑plant conversion.

Why it matters: the budget is the parish’s primary statement of fiscal priorities for 2026 and directs funding to drainage and levy projects that parish leaders describe as necessary to protect property and maintain day‑to‑day services. Jewell said sales tax revenue represents about 29% of governmental fund revenues and that modest increases in assessed value — $30 million projected in 2025 — support the plan.

Key programmatic and personnel items: the budget includes a 2% cost‑of‑living adjustment for employees and merit raises for eligible staff. Jewell also highlighted investments in recreation (Westbank boat launch, sand volleyball courts, a parish dog park) and continued emphasis on maintaining staffing and training through the revised pay plan adopted in 2022.

Budget phasing and large projects: several high‑cost drainage and flood‑control projects are underway or planned and will span multiple fiscal years. Council members and public‑works staff discussed the timing of multi‑year projects such as the Norco/Engineers Canal pump‑station work and CN Railroad drainage elements; staff explained some costs are budgeted in 2025 with the remainder carried into 2026. Grant sources cited that will support capital work include GOMESA, LCDBG and federal grants tied to specific projects.

Council amendments and transfers: councilmembers offered targeted transfers from existing line items or district budgets to fund local priorities and repairs. Notable actions recorded at the hearing: Councilman Pillier moved a detailed transfer of approximately $39,004.75 across several object codes to fund cross‑canal cleaning at Ormond Lakes (Weir #1) and related drainage needs; Councilwoman DuBoisier moved $25,375 from her district budget to support Rainbow Bridge dog‑park improvements and $11,375 to community services rental assistance; Councilman Fisher moved a $100,000 transfer from the general fund to paved‑streets improvements to support spillway road repairs. Each of these motions was seconded and recorded as passing unanimously.

Budget process next steps: the ordinance to adopt the appropriation for fiscal year 2026 (File No. 2025‑0161) was introduced; public hearings on that ordinance are scheduled for Oct. 30, 2025 at 1 p.m. and Nov. 3, 2025 at 6 p.m. in council chambers. The council opened public comment several times during the hearing; no members of the public spoke during the recorded segments of the hearing.

What remains unresolved or carries forward: staff and council noted that drainage needs identified by the drainage master plan exceed currently available funding; administration and council expressed intent to continue seeking additional revenue sources to accelerate drainage project implementation. Several capital projects — notably gym construction, the Westbank boat launch and major pump‑station upgrades — require continued grant pursuit, phased budgeting or further design/bidding work before construction can begin.