Jefferson Parish Council adopts $1.029 billion 2026 budget, defers larger Deloitte amendment

Jefferson Parish — The Jefferson Parish Council unanimously adopted the parish’s 2026 operating and capital budgets on Wednesday, approving about $1,029,000,000 in proposed expenditures while preserving a 15% reserve policy and a proposed 5% merit pay increase for certain classified employees.

The administration, represented at the meeting by Chief Operating Officer Steve LeChute standing in for Parish President Cynthia Lee Chang, told the council the capital program totals about $139,000,000, with the largest share—approximately $127.8 million—earmarked for public-works projects such as drainage, streets, water and sewer improvements. LeChute cited planned allocations of roughly $36,000,000 for drainage, $28,000,000 for streets, $25,000,000 for water-system improvements and $37,000,000 for sewer-system work. He urged the council to approve both the operating and capital ordinances as presented.

"The 2026 proposed budget follows conservative fiscal policies while maintaining the level of service our citizens have come to expect," LeChute said during his presentation.

Councilwoman Van Brinken, who moved for approval of both budget ordinances, emphasized that budgets can be amended at future meetings and asked colleagues to focus on tightening spending before considering new revenue sources. "I think the emphasis needs to be on tightening our belts rather than additional revenue," she said during the public hearing on the operating budget. After public comment and brief questions, the council approved the operating and capital budgets without objection.

Several residents spoke during the public hearings. One resident raised concerns about intergovernmental transfers and the allocation of funds to special districts, saying that some unincorporated citizens felt disadvantaged; the council recorded that a member of the public appeared in opposition during each hearing but moved forward with adoption.

Separately, the council approved multiple procurement selections on the consent calendar, including:

- Redwood Toxicology to provide drug screenings for court-involved youth (selection approved by motion). - MGT Impact Solutions for executive search services for finance and accounting leadership. - CSRS LLC for onsite planning work related to Laketown and the Esplanade Mall master plan. - Jefferson Performing Arts Society to provide management services for the parish’s performing arts center (the motion carried with one abstention noted).

Deloitte contract amendment deferred

Council members debated Amendment No. 3 to the parish’s contract with Deloitte & Touche LLP (Contract No. 5500022080), which would increase the contract cap by $6,800,000 to a new total of $15,000,000 to cover work streams tied to year-end close, audit support, finance-process improvements, grant-management data, and Jefferson Parish’s M4 ERP implementation. Councilwoman Van Brinken asked to defer the item to allow time to clarify how the 2026 funding impact would be allocated across departments — notably drainage and streets — and whether the proposed amendment would delay or affect the timetable for an audit scheduled in early 2026.

Van Brinken said she was "curious…how much [departments] will be responsible for" and asked for a short delay to ensure departments could absorb the costs without disrupting capital projects. Administration and Deloitte representatives said there were funds available from 2025 adjustments to keep the audit on schedule and that deferral to the Jan. 14, 2026 meeting would not necessarily stop work in the near term. The council voted to defer the amendment to the Jan. 14, 2026 meeting.

Executive-session settlements

The council also read and adopted resolutions authorizing executive sessions to discuss pending litigation and authorized two separate settlement-matters to be considered in executive session: Pasco Architects LLC v. Parish of Jefferson and a suit involving Ginny Montelongo and East Jefferson General Hospital.

What’s next

The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2026, when the deferred Deloitte amendment and other pending items will return to the agenda.