Plaquemines Parish sets Nov. 18 budget hearings, administration presents proposed 2025 budget

The Plaquemines Parish Council on Oct. 24 adopted a resolution setting public hearing dates for the proposed 2025 operating and five-year capital budgets and received the administration raft budget documents.

President Hinckley told the council the parish is watching state-level tax proposals that could change local receipts: "Right now there's a cap. I can't remember the numbers that we get, but it might be like $4,000,000 ... with all the other taxes ... it could go up to, like, $13,000,000 a year," he said, adding that removing a severance-tax cap could produce a roughly $9,000,000 net increase under certain scenarios.

Why it matters: The council scheduled hearings to allow public comment and line-item review before adoption, giving members time to consider whether to add enforcement staffing or other new programs that administrators said require budget authority.

The council unanimously approved a resolution that sets initial budget hearings to begin Nov. 18 at 9 a.m. in the Belle Chasse council chambers and continue on subsequent days as needed. Administration staff confirmed council members had received printed budget books in their offices.

Administration representatives urged members to raise questions in advance to facilitate efficient hearings. Finance and department staff told the council levy inspection work and other recurring capital and maintenance items are in their proposed budgets and noted that some project scheduling will depend on later state and federal reimbursements.

Next steps: The council will conduct line-by-line budget hearings starting Nov. 18 and may amend or approve the budgets after public hearings and committee review.