Council reallocates $28M in reserves for surplus, emergencies and equipment; no immediate spending authorized

The Plaquemines Parish Council approved a sweeping 2024 budget amendment on Dec. 17 that reclassifies existing fund balances into specific designations and creates a pool for equipment and grant matching, but does not authorize immediate spending.

The ordinance moves $18,000,000 into a parish-surplus designation and $6,000,000 into an emergencies designation. It also creates a capital-outlay designation with $2,830,500 and a prospective-grants designation with $1,500,000; the council noted a higher vote threshold for removing grant-designation funds in the future. The firefighting-fund capital outlay designation was also adjusted with a transfer of $9,864,144 noted in the ordinance text.

The chairman emphasized that the measure is largely an accounting action: "No money is being spent," he said, adding that future expenditures will require separate motions and the requisite votes. Several council members discussed equipment priorities; the administration described a preliminary equipment list and confirmed a plan to purchase a new vacuum truck to reduce costly rentals and to replace aging vehicles for boat harbors and flood control.

Members requested detailed purchase lists and the administration committed to provide purchase orders and an itemized equipment list. One council member asked for clarification on voting thresholds; sponsors said some uses will require a two‑thirds or six‑vote approval when tied to the prospective-grant designation. The ordinance passed 7–0.

Next steps: the administration must present specific purchase requests to move designated funds into departmental budgets for expenditure approval by this council.