Parish finance staff report stronger January sales‑tax receipts; committee advances operating and capital amendments

At a March meeting of the St. Tammany Parish Finance Committee, parish finance staff reported stronger‑than‑expected January sales‑tax receipts and introduced an operating‑budget amendment to cover higher health‑insurance costs and a $1,000 across‑the‑board market adjustment for employees.

Finance staff member Mr. Perkins told the committee that the parish received "approximately $6.7 million in sales tax for sales tax district three, which is about 7% above what we got in 2025 at $6.2 million." He said January collections for the Highway 21 Economic Development district totaled about $108,000, also roughly 7% higher than the prior year.

The discussion placed those figures in the context of other revenue streams: Mr. Perkins said the parish has collected roughly 95% of expected ad valorem receipts to date from late‑year levies and expects final parishwide ad valorem collections to approach about 98% by fall. He warned certain lighting districts (districts 9 and 16 were cited) are on the April ballot and, if not renewed, could exhaust fund balances by year‑end, potentially requiring service changes.

The operating amendment presented to the committee (ordinance calendar number 8082) would increase expenditure budgets to cover a projected insurance premium increase of "approximately $361,727" and to fund a $1,000 market adjustment across employees at an estimated cost of "$697,398," the staff presentation said. The market adjustment was described as effective on the May 22, 2026 paycheck.

Committee members had no substantive questions at the time the amendment was introduced. After presentations on related capital items, the committee voted by voice to advance the operating amendment and two capital amendments to the next stage of consideration.

The committee also discussed administrative funding details: Mr. Perkins noted the jury service fund covers juror pay currently set at $25 a day plus $0.16 per mile and said parish staff are coordinating with the 22nd Judicial District Court regarding potential court‑cost adjustments tied to state legislation that could change mileage reimbursements.

The committee did not record a roll‑call tally in the transcript for the advancement vote; the chair called for the ayes and received a voice approval. The ordinances will proceed through the normal legislative review process.