SHREVEPORT, La. — The Caddo Parish Commission voted to adopt its 2026 operating and capital budgets during a special session, approving an amended package that includes a $2.5 million capital appropriation to the sheriff's office and smaller additions for marketing and feral hog mitigation.

The commission unanimously approved a motion to amend the capital outlay ordinance (65 68) to appropriate $2,500,000 to the sheriff's office for office space after the long-range planning committee recommended the appropriation. Commissioner Ron Carter introduced the amendment; the commission adopted the capital outlay ordinance as amended.

The general fund ordinance (65 69) was adopted as amended after the body approved a $40,000 increase for marketing to promote relocation to Caddo Parish. A separate proposed amendment to reduce the Metropolitan Planning Commission's (MPC) allocation by $118,275 failed on a 5-7 vote after a lengthy debate in which commissioners and staff asked for more data about MPC contracts, staffing and service levels.

Martha Merrick, representing the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, opened public comment by thanking the commission for help in a recent distribution. "We fed over 3,000 families in 1 day," Merrick said, adding the drive provided about "150,000 pounds" of food, "enough food for 450,000 meals, and the retail value of the food was $285,000 at a minimum."

Commissioners debated the proposal by Commissioner Crackman to reduce MPC funding, during which Crackman said MPC had previously engaged a third party for a code rewrite at a cost of "$90,000 at the time" and that caseloads had fallen. County administration cautioned that "we signed a contract" with MPC to deliver specific services and that staff needed more data to determine whether the same services could be provided at a lower dollar amount.

Other budget items were handled in consolidated votes. The commission adopted several public-works-related ordinances in globo, approved an amendment to the solid-waste fund (65 74) appropriating $75,000 for professional litter-pickup services, and clarified language around the juvenile services fund (officially titled the juvenile justice fund by staff). The health tax fund (65 76) was amended to add $40,000 for professional services to mitigate the parish's feral hog problem.

The commission also approved amendments to biomedical and riverboat-funded appropriations (ord. 65 77 and 65 78), including a reduction to certain riverboat appropriations by $170,677; and it approved a transfer within the criminal justice fund (65 79) to move $2,500,000 into the capital outlay fund to align with the sheriff office appropriation.

Commissioner Gregory Young successfully moved amendments totaling $40,000 in the economic development fund (65 83) to support Visit Shreveport (including $15,000 for an MLK choir competition and $25,000 for Shreveport programming), and Commissioner Roy Burrell added $5,000 for the Louisiana State Fair. Both amendments passed with 11 in favor and 1 opposed.

The final omnibus motion to adopt the remaining ordinances carried unanimously, and the chair announced that the commission had adopted its 2026 operating and capital budget.

Votes at a glance:
- Rules of procedure: adopted (11-0, 1 absent)
- Ordinance 65 68 (capital outlay) amended to add $2,500,000 to sheriff; adopted as amended (12-0)
- Ordinance 65 69 (general fund) amended to add $40,000 marketing; MPC reduction amendment failed (5-7); ordinance adopted as amended (12-0)
- Ordinances 65 70–65 73 (public works): adopted in globo (12-0)
- Ordinance 65 74 (solid waste): amended to add $75,000 for litter pickup; adopted as amended (12-0)
- Ordinance 65 76 (health tax): amended to add $40,000 for feral hog mitigation; adopted as amended (12-0)
- Ordinances 65 77–65 78 (biomedical/riverboat funds): 65 78 amended to reduce appropriations by $170,677; 65 77 carried 12-0; 65 78 carried as amended (11-1)
- Ordinance 65 79 (criminal justice): amended to transfer $2,500,000 to capital outlay; adopted as amended (12-0)
- Ordinance 65 83 (economic development): amended to add $40,000 for Visit Shreveport and $5,000 for Louisiana State Fair; adopted as amended (11-1)

What comes next: department staff will implement approved appropriations and the administration will execute contracts consistent with the adopted budget; commissioners asked administrators to provide data on MPC services if funding levels are revisited.

The commission adjourned after thanking department heads for their work.