St. Charles Parish leaders present $257.1 million 2026 budget prioritizing drainage, levy protection

Parish President Matthew Jewell presented the proposed 2026 St. Charles Parish consolidated operating and capital budget at the council’s Oct. 28 hearing, describing a plan that prioritizes levy protection, drainage projects and major utility upgrades while aiming to preserve a competitive tax environment.

Jewell told the council the proposed governmental fund expenditures total $257,100,000, with $61,500,000 earmarked for levy protection, $32,200,000 for public works and $5,100,000 in grant funding directed to drainage projects. Projected governmental revenues were listed at $185,800,000, supplemented by a beginning fund balance carried over from 2025 totaling $95,900,000. “This budget reflects our shared commitment to maintaining a sustainable fiscal path while continuing to meet the needs of our residents,” Jewell said in his presentation.

Jewell and finance staff highlighted a long-term reduction in the parish’s millage rate—from a historic high near 118.41 mills down to 100.9 mills—and said administration and council remain committed to pursuing further millage reductions where feasible. Jewell and staff also described investments in community amenities, including funding for the Westbank boat launch, sand volleyball courts and a dog park, while noting that the parish’s drainage needs exceed currently available funding and will require continued collaboration to identify additional revenue sources.

During the hearing, department and agency heads explained their proposed line items and answered council questions. Presenters included judges and court officials, the registrar (noting additional postage and supply needs for expected primaries and that state purchases will supply new voting machines with a paper audit trail), the sheriff (who described jail per-diem arrangements and federal inmate contracts) and multiple public-works staff who walked through road, drainage and GOMESA-funded capital projects.

Councilors also approved several reallocation motions by voice vote. Councilman Pilar offered a detailed amendment moving various 2025 line-item balances into account 112420260 to fund cross-canal cleaning and other small drainage projects; the chair repeated the amendment and the council recorded it as passing unanimously. Councilwoman DuBourie moved a separate transfer of $25,375 from 2025 balances into recreation improvements for the Rainbow Bridge dog park and community-services rental assistance; that amendment likewise passed unanimously. Later in the session, Councilman Fisher’s motion to transfer $100,000 into paved-streets improvements for Spillway Road repairs was approved by voice vote.

The ordinance to adopt the budget (File 2025-0161) was announced as introduced and scheduled for publication and public hearings on Oct. 30 and Nov. 3. The council adjourned after approving the day’s motions and setting the public-hearing dates.

What’s next: The budget ordinance will return for advertised public hearings consistent with the timetable the council announced; separate capital and grant-funded projects (including CDBG and GOMESA allocations) remain contingent on multi-year phasing, permit approvals and interagency reimbursements noted by staff.