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Votes at a glance: Shreveport council approves tax levies, pay-scale increases, emergency infrastructure measures and multiple zoning cases
Summary
The council voted unanimously on several budget and infrastructure items — including ad-valorem tax ordinances, emergency repairs to sewer and wastewater infrastructure, and pay-scale adjustments for police and fire effective May 1, 2026 — and approved multiple zoning map amendments and appointments.
The Shreveport City Council approved a package of budget, public-works and zoning measures during its regular meeting.
Key votes and outcomes
- Resolution 4 — Authorize lease with North Louisiana Criminalistic Laboratory Commission: approved 7–0 (see separate coverage).
- Executive appointments — Thea Scott (Assistant Director of Community Development) and Kathy Fuller Mitchell (Division Manager of Administration, Community Development) were confirmed 7–0 after a motion by Councilman Green and second by the vice chair.
- Pay scales — The council approved new pay scales for police civil service personnel (Resolution 20) and fire civil service personnel (Resolution 21), both effective May 1, 2026. Several council members said the increases are insufficient but supported the measures as a first step; both measures passed unanimously.
- Emergency ordinances — Ordinance 15 (emergency repairs to a sewer main and drainage near Brownlee Street) and Ordinance 16 (emergency replacement of transformers at the Lucas Wastewater Treatment Plant) passed on final reading with recorded votes in favor.
- Tax levies and debt millages — Ordinances 17 and 18 levying various ad-valorem mills for 2026 and debt service were approved by the council.
- Zoning and land-use — A string of zoning ordinances (Ordinances 20–24) that rezoned specific parcels throughout the city (Fuller Street, Woolworth Road, Wilkinson/William, Pines Road, Walker/Dean Road) passed on second reading and final passage as recorded.
- Allocations to nonprofits — Resolution 22 appropriated funds to specified not-for-profit organizations from general and riverfront funds; the measure passed with five in favor and opposition noted.
Roll-call notes and process
The clerk recorded votes on each item; many measures passed unanimously (7–0). Council members used amendments and motions to postpone or withdraw some items (for example, Resolution 15 recognizing Mariah Dawn Hester was postponed by motion of the chair and vice chair). Several councilmembers urged continued work to secure additional resources for staff pay and infrastructure.
What this means
The votes move forward the city’s 2026 budget and capital priorities, add short-term emergency repairs to critical infrastructure, and adjust pay scales for public safety personnel beginning May 1. The zoning approvals will allow specific development projects to proceed under amended zoning designations; details for specific parcels will be handled through permitting and follow-up processes.
