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DeSoto Parish Police Jury approves 2025 budgets for witness & juror, criminal court and jail funds
Summary
The DeSoto Parish Police Jury approved 2025 budgets for the witness & juror fund, criminal court fund and jail fund after presentations by parish staff. Commissioners questioned shifts in clerk duties, rising jail medical costs and whether transfers will affect road funding.
Miss Lilly, presenting parish finance figures, told the DeSoto Parish Police Jury the Witness & Juror fund is projected to begin 2025 with roughly $1.02 million, with revenues of about $149,000 and expenditures near $96,200, producing a projected net increase of approximately $52,800 and an estimated ending balance of $1,077,209.
She said jury compensation will rise by $15,000 for 2025 and the $44,000 previously budgeted for a judicial administrator reimbursement will be shifted to a jury-management reimbursement because duties have been reassigned to the clerk of court. "So instead of that administrative reimbursement, we're just shifting that from next year for jury management reimbursement for $44,000," Miss Lilly said.
Commissioners asked for clarification about who is performing the duties and why the money is being moved. One commissioner criticized earlier internal staffing decisions, referencing a Jeremy Evans in the discussion; Miss Lilly and others explained the transition reflects statutory duties returning to the clerk of court. Following that exchange, Richard moved to approve the Witness & Juror fund and Miss Simpson seconded; the motion passed.
On the criminal court fund, Miss Lilly presented a 2025 beginning balance of about $46,470, projected revenues of $647,000 and expenditures of $635,008.36 for a small net increase. She noted revenue volatility tied to court fines and bond forfeitures and described recent staffing consolidations: "Currently, right now, they have 1 secretary and a traditional administrator... now they have combined that to just have 1 secretary," she said. Commissioners approved the criminal court fund after Mr. Jones moved and Miss Simpson seconded.
The jail fund presentation outlined a projected 2025 beginning balance near $1,000,005, expected revenues of $1,518,000 and expenditures of $856,413, leaving a projected increase and an estimated ending balance around $2,000,002. Miss Lilly highlighted increased medical expense projections — from prior budgets to roughly $120,000 next year — citing frequent emergency-room visits with widely variable charges. "Every time they go to the ER, it could be from what I'm hearing, $500 to $6,000 per visit," she said.
Commissioners sought more detail about hospital billing, whether contract rates could be negotiated with DeSoto Regional, and which inmate populations the parish is responsible for paying. The sheriff's office representative clarified parish payments are for parish inmates and the sheriff bills separately for DOC (state) inmates. After discussion, the jury approved the jail fund.
All enacted motions were recorded as passed during the meeting.
