Iberia Parish Council unanimously adopts 2025 budgets, approves equipment and project amendments

The Iberia Parish Council on Dec. 4, 2024 moved through its final-adoption agenda and unanimously approved dozens of 2025 fund budgets while adopting several council amendments that add equipment and project funding.

The council voted to adopt the 2025 general fund budget and a long list of special-purpose and district budgets "as publicized," following administrative changes presented by Budget Officer Michelle Sweare and several council amendments. Sweare told the council the administration proposed adding $50,000 to the governing-body professional-services line, $5,000 for equipment purchases (office furniture), $50,000 to finance professional services and a new $10,000 rental line for emergency management. "So for the governing body ... we wanna add $50,000," Sweare said when listing the administrative changes.

Why it matters: The package bundles the parish’s main operating plan with many smaller funds and discretionary line items. Administrative amendments adjust how the budget pays for services and timing of projects; council amendments add or move funding for equipment and specific projects that will affect operations and procurement in 2025.

Key amendments and additions

- Equipment and laptops: Councilman Scott Rossenay moved to add $75,000 to the governing-body equipment line to fund sound-equipment updates and purchase 14 laptops; the equipment line was described as adjusting to $90,000 after the amendment and the council approved the change.

- Public works equipment: Councilman Trahan successfully moved to add $23,500 in Road District No. 10 equipment funds to purchase a Bobcat wheeled machine.

- Port of Iberia Road: Councilman Trujillo moved to create a new Economic Development District No. 1 line item of $750,000 for "Port of Iberia Road;" the council approved the amendment and the EDD budget with the change.

- Grapple truck for solid waste: An amendment added $300,000 to the solid-waste sales tax fund equipment line for the purchase of one grapple truck; members discussed transferring funds from the drainage fund to the sales-tax fund and the amendment passed.

- Library roof and timing: Administration said the library’s roof project will not be finished in 2024 and that $540,000 originally projected for 2024 will be moved into the 2025 buildings line; the budget includes an additional $30,000 for library architect/engineer line items to reflect recent board actions.

Votes at a glance

- Summary No. 5346 (Acadiana Fairgrounds Commission 2025 budget): approved unanimously (motion by Councilman Loy Brown; second by Councilman Trahan). - Summary No. 5317 (2025 General Fund budget): approved with administrative amendments and council amendments including equipment and laptop funding (motion by Councilman Loy Brown; second by Councilman Trejo). - Summary No. 5319 (Road District No. 10 maintenance fund): approved with administrative amendment and Councilman Trahan’s equipment amendment for a Bobcat. - Summary No. 5326 (Economic Development District No. 1): approved with a $100,000 professional-services increase and a $750,000 Port of Iberia Road line item. - Summary No. 5327 (Solid waste sales tax fund): approved with a $300,000 equipment amendment for a grapple truck. - Summary No. 5334 (HUD Section 8 housing choice voucher program fund): approved as introduced. - Summary No. 5351 (Capital improvements fund, 2025–2029): approved as introduced.

All recorded votes on the published ordinances in the transcript were announced as carrying unanimously.

Other business and next steps

The council handled consent items and minute approvals (the Nov. 20 minutes were deferred to Dec. 18 because they were incomplete). Several budgets required only administrative adjustments and were approved as publicized. Where members or department boards had recently approved changes (for example, recreation/building-maintenance items), administration said those adjustments will be reflected in a future amendment.

Parish President (unnamed in the transcript) reminded the council and public about the "State of the Parish" presentation next Thursday at Sliman's starting at 6:00 p.m. The chair announced the next council meeting will be Dec. 11, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

The meeting adjourned and the chair called for a 15-minute break.