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DeSoto Parish jurors broaden budget‑committee participation and simplify 'end debate' rule
Summary
The Police Jury amended bylaws to allow any juror who wants to join the budget committee (Oct–Dec) and to vote during the budget process; it also rewrote the 'call for the question' rule to follow Robert's Rules with a simple-majority vote to end debate.
DeSoto Parish jurors voted to change two bylaws on Dec. 23 to increase member participation in budget preparation and clarify how debate ends.
The first amendment to Article 1, Rule 2 allows the president to appoint any juror who wishes to serve on the budget committee during the October–December budget preparation period, and grants those appointees voting rights during that period. Supporters said the change increases access for jurors who want earlier input on line items; some members objected that jurors already attend budget meetings and questioned changing voting rights.
The jury also adopted a rewrite of Article 8, Rule 1 — commonly called a "call for the question" — to clarify the procedure for ending debate. The draft tracks Robert’s Rules of Order more closely and provides that the body may end debate by a simple‑majority vote (the proposed change replaces the prior confusion around how a call for the question is recognized and processed).
A minor grammar correction to Article 10, Rule 4 was approved without substantive change. Jurors discussed transparency and procedural fairness during debate and then carried the amendments by voice or roll call as recorded in the meeting minutes.
The procedural amendments take effect immediately and are intended to give jurors more opportunity to engage with the budget during preparation while providing clearer rules for ending debate at meetings.
