OCS budget shows shift in weatherization funding as DHHS support declines and infrastructure funds arrive

The Office of Community Services (OCS) budget discussion at a DeSoto Parish Police Jury meeting highlighted a reconfiguration of weatherization funding sources and timing concerns for grant receipts.

Speaker 4 presented corrected 2025 numbers for OCS and said the department expects 2025 revenues of about $1,569,002.39 and expenditures of $1,787,993, with a proposed $120,000 transfer from the general fund to cover program-ineligible expenses. Speaker 4 described weatherization as now supported by four funding sources and said DHHS funding for weatherization was projected to decline from approximately $639,005.36 to about $383,005.39 next year. "We're fixing to have [a] fourth one, which is that bipartisan infrastructure," Speaker 4 said when explaining the changes.

Speaker 4 emphasized that the timing of some grant receipts remains uncertain; the presenter said funds expected in August this year may instead arrive in October, and that staff will continue to monitor reimbursement timing for program activities. Jurors previously authorized the purchase of up to two trucks for weatherization work (up to $66,000 total), but Speaker 4 said the purchases remain pending until the bipartisan infrastructure funding is received.

Jurors approved the OCS budget. Staff were directed to finalize the corrected budget sheets and to continue tracking the timing and amounts of weatherization grants so capital purchases and staff allocations can be executed once funding is confirmed.

Next steps: OCS staff will report back on the timing of bipartisan infrastructure funds and provide updated capital outlay proposals for juror review.