Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Iberia Parish recreation budget calls for $660,000 in park capital work, taps fund balance
Summary
Recreation director outlined a $4.009 million budget that uses $872,721 of fund balance (including $660,000 for capital improvements), adds a full‑time office assistant, and plans playground upgrades; council questioned lawn‑care contract increases and timing of LED conversions.
Tammy Bridal, director of Iberia Parish Recreation and Playground, presented the department’s proposed 2026 budget on Oct. 20, saying projected monthly sales tax receipts of $200,000 would support a $4,009,121 spending plan. “We’re actually increasing the interest collected on the investments to $85,000,” Bridal said, and the proposal relies on $872,721 from fund balance, which includes about $660,000 earmarked for capital improvements and a replacement vehicle.
The budget adds a full‑time office assistant to replace a part‑time employee and moves group retiree insurance from administration to maintenance lines after two retirements increased costs. Bridal detailed capital items that include HVAC replacements after multiple unit failures and planned playground upgrades to expand equipment for older children. She said the department will return maintenance responsibility for Lydia Veterans and the new Iberia City Park to parish maintenance while retaining rental and scheduling duties.
Council members pressed Bridal for details. One member asked about two 20‑ton units at King Joseph, and Bridal replied technicians expect both units will need replacement before next summer. Lawns and field lighting drew questions: several parks show notable increases in lawn‑care and utilities costs, and Bridal said the incumbent contractor reported losses so the department solicited soft quotes and plans to rebid the work.
Members also asked whether the parish should “bite the bullet” and convert ball‑field and park lights to LED now rather than patching fixtures. Bridal said the department is repairing ground infrastructure and will replace fixtures with LED as they fail; she shared an engineer’s estimate that a full conversion for two parks could cost around $3 million. The chair and councilors urged prioritizing safety issues such as a repeatedly spinning light pole on Field 2.
The department will return to the council at final adoption with any requested clarifications and potential amendments; the meeting on Oct. 20 was informational, not a formal adoption.
The committee heard related discussion on picnic shelters, the Quilter Park walking track (funds are being held pending a contract), and RV park capital requests, including a $60,000 bond and utility funding.
