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Lafourche Council rejects $10,000 transfer for Commission on Women, pulls $40,000 senior-centers amendment for redraft
Summary
Council members debated two budget amendments during the Nov. 25 meeting: a $10,000 transfer to support the Commission on Women’s Louisiana Girls Leadership Academy failed on a 3–5 roll-call, while a $40,000 amendment to aid senior centers was pulled after staff said the referenced fund was not appropriate and the administration agreed to seek alternative funding and a $5,000 immediate recreation allocation.
The Lafourche Parish Council on Nov. 25 debated two proposed changes to the 2026 operating budget and reached different outcomes: a $10,000 transfer for the Commission on Women failed in a recorded vote, and a $40,000 senior-centers amendment was withdrawn for revision.
Councilman Lorraine introduced Amendment 1 to transfer $10,000 from the royalty fund to Fund 126 to increase support for the Commission on Women and for the Louisiana Girls Leadership Academy (LGLA). Councilman Adams opposed advancing a transfer while the parish budget is tight, saying, "If we can't give money we don't have right now. We can't go on a maybe." President Ozeron and others noted historical funding levels and potential future royalty increases tied to drilling but also provided context on the royalty fund balance.
A roll-call vote on the amendment recorded 3 yeas and 5 nays with one absence (Chair O'Tam), and the motion failed.
Councilman Lorraine also introduced Amendment 2, a $40,000 transfer described at the meeting as intended to help eight senior centers with operating costs (electric bills and programming). Administration counsel and President Ozeron said the item as drafted referenced Fund 109 (health-units fund) and the cited ordinance made the appropriation nonworkable. President Ozeron declined to guarantee a full $40,000 reallocation but committed to dedicate $5,000 from recreation operating funds to assist senior centers immediately and to work with councilmembers in January to identify an appropriate funding source.
Because of the drafting and fund-source issue, Councilman Lorraine pulled Amendment 2 and removed the motion from the agenda. No additional transfers were approved at the meeting; the 2026 budget ordinance (Ordinance 4) was nevertheless adopted as presented by an 8–0 recorded vote with one absence.
Actions and votes recorded at the meeting included approval of prior meeting minutes, the failed roll-call on Amendment 1 (3–5–1), the successful adoption of Ordinance 4 (2026 budget) by 8 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absence, and the removal of Amendment 2 for redrafting.
The council directed administration to review potential internal funding options and to return with a clarified proposal for senior-center assistance.
