Finance committee advances four budget items, approves $2.4 million chilled‑water reroute for St. Tammany Parish jail

The St. Tammany Parish Finance Committee voted to forward four budget and grant items to the full council, including a capital amendment that expands a jail infrastructure project to $2.4 million, a finance staff member said.

Annie, a finance staff member who presented the committee packet, told members that February sales tax collections were "almost $6.3 million, which is about $157,000 more than they were in January," and projected roughly $80 million in cash collections to St. Tammany Parish government for fiscal 2026 if modest growth continues. She also reported $104,000 in February collections for the Highway 21 Economic Development District, up about 6% from last year, and estimated that district receipts could finish the year between $1.2 million and $1.4 million (the budgeted amount was $1.2 million).

Why it matters: the committee advanced three ordinance items and a grant amendment to the council that together fund ongoing operations, jail repairs and two grant programs. Several of the jail projects are funded by residual general funds and Deepwater Horizon settlement funds, which the presenters said are being used to complete higher‑priority infrastructure work.

The capital amendment (Ordinance Calendar No. 8101) includes four jail projects: replacement of six aging air handlers in Building A ($510,000); an increase of $1.9 million to the chilled‑water loop project — bringing that project's total to about $2.4 million — because underground leaks have required frequent costly repairs; plumbing upgrades to install automatic and remote controls on inmate showers, sinks and toilets (adding $85,000 to bring that project to $235,000); and a Building D roof replacement estimated at $810,000. Annie said the chilled‑water loop is roughly 25 years old and consultants advised that running new lines above ground will be more cost‑effective than continuing underground repairs.

Committee members questioned whether a maintenance contract would be procured with the new air handlers. Julian, a staff member, said: "Yes. That would that would certainly be the plan. And ideal." Annie and others confirmed that current maintenance contracts cover boilers and chillers but not the air handlers; the committee discussed making maintenance procurement part of the installation plan.

The committee also approved forwarding an operating budget amendment (Ordinance 8100) to fund an administrative assistant position in the 22nd JDC Commissioner Fund and a grant budget amendment (Ordinance 8102) that accepts a Clean Water State Revolving Fund award of $706,825 for forgivable loans to residents for on‑site sewage repairs and a Rural Transit Award totaling $603,600 for July 2026–June 2027 (DOTD portion $300,000; the award requires a 50% match after fares).

Procedural outcome: the chair called for a motion to move Ordinance Calendar items 8100, 8101 and 8102 to the council. The motion was made and seconded (mover recorded as Mr. Burke; second as Mr. Smith), the committee voted by voice and the chair declared the motion carried and the items forwarded to the full council. The transcript does not include a roll‑call tally; members present responded to a voice vote.

Next steps: the items will appear on the full council agenda for final consideration. The committee’s packet and the staff presentation list funding sources and the proposed project budgets; any final appropriation or contracting decisions will be made by the council.

Sources: Committee presentation and Q&A (finance staff member Annie; Julian, staff member).