Sales tax and other receipts outpace budget; finance staff projects stronger starting balances for 2026

Annie Perkins, the parish finance presenter, told the committee that sales‑tax collections through November were up about 6.5% year over year and that November receipts totaled about $6.5 million. "Collections are still up," Perkins said, adding that anticipated collections for fiscal 2025 are approximately $96,000,000, with about $81,000,000 expected to remain with St. Tammany Parish.

Perkins said the Highway 21 Economic Development District was up about 14% versus last November and that total collections for that district are estimated at roughly $1.4 million for the year, a rise she attributed largely to late 2024 receipts from a new Costco location.

The presenter introduced an ad valorem collections slide not included in the packet and said initial ad valorem receipts arrived in December and January; parishwide ad valorem and related funds were coming in at about 80% of grand‑recap amounts for December/January, while lighting districts were at roughly 87–90% of the expected amounts. Perkins noted that February is typically the last large month for property tax receipts and that the numbers will continue to be finalized as cash receipts and invoices are assessed through February and early March.

On fund balances, Perkins said the parish now projects a higher 2026 beginning general‑fund balance than was used in the budget: the 2026 budget assumed a $15,350,000 beginning balance, while current projections show about $15,619,000 — a $269,000 favorable variance. Perkins attributed the variance in part to lower jail‑related spending than budgeted and said remaining jail‑budget funds will be needed to help cover jail operations in 2026. The public works fund is projected to start 2026 about $5,000,000 higher than the figure used when the budget was prepared ($49,000,000 projected versus $43,000,000 previously estimated), a result Perkins tied to stronger sales tax and increased interest income.

Perkins also explained that drainage maintenance rose from a budgeted $7.7 million to a projected $9.0 million this year after several projects closed under budget and freed roughly $900,000 of capital reserves. She confirmed, in response to council questions, that those projects were completed and that the freed funds are available for other needs.

Councilman Waffen asked whether surpluses in those funds could offset state mandates; Perkins said they could not because the funds are restricted. Perkins cautioned that lighting district funds are under pressure from higher utility costs and that the committee previously approved amendments to increase those funds' utility expenditures; she agreed to provide updated run‑out projections for the lighting districts at a future meeting.

The finance presentation concluded with summaries of CRT (hotel‑motel) funds — which reflect a $100,000 amendment related to fishing‑pier costs and a roughly $400,000 FEMA award requiring a match — debt service variances driven by lower interest income and enterprise/internal service fund variances tied mainly to utilities and maintenance costs.

The committee did not take formal action on the financial report; the presentation ended when staff invited additional questions.