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Plaquemines Parish Council adopts 2026 millage levy and approves multiple budget, staffing and pay measures
Summary
The Plaquemines Parish Council on May 28, 2026, adopted the 2026 millage levy and approved a slate of ordinances that amend capital and operating budgets, create an Engineer Intern position, and grant a 6% pay increase to Fire Department personnel; votes were unanimous among those present. (Council Member Stuart J. Guey was absent.)
The Plaquemines Parish Council adopted the 2026 millage levy and approved several budget and staffing measures during its May 28 meeting in Pointe-a-la-Hache.
Council Member Mark Cognevich offered Ordinance No. 26-69 to levy the 2026 millages, which the council adopted on a roll-call vote with all eight present members voting yes and Council Member Stuart J. Guey recorded as absent. The levy list includes General Alimony at 4.330 mills, Garbage & Waste Disposal 3.470 mills, Roads parishwide 1.760 mills, Waterworks District 2.320 mills and other established millages for library and health unit purposes.
The council also approved a series of budget amendments and staffing measures that were presented as ordinances and adopted on second reading:
- Ordinance No. 26-70 (offered by Council Member Brian Champagne) amended the Five-Year Capital Improvements Plan for Building 1004 renovations (EOC/911 call center), appropriating $25,000 from the General Fund and reducing related state funding by $75,000.
- Ordinance No. 26-71 (offered by Council Member Patricia L. McCarty) appropriated $70,000 from a prospective-grants fund to the Grants Administration department to pay ELOS for grant-writing services for the Barriere Road Corridor grant.
- Ordinance No. 26-72 (offered by Council Member Brian Champagne) created and funded a full-time Engineer Intern position in Engineering & Public Works with an annual salary of $61,306 plus benefits and an appropriation of $59,710 from fund balance.
- Ordinance No. 26-73 (offered by Council Member Chris Schulz) enacted a 6% pay increase for all Fire Department personnel, with a total appropriation of $146,170 from the Firefighting Fund unreserved/undesignated balance to cover wages, taxes and retirement costs across multiple fire districts.
- Ordinance No. 26-74 (offered by Council Member Mitch Jurisich) allocated $200,000 in GOMESA revenue-sharing funds to the Coastal Zone-Levee department for a professional consulting contract with the Aims Group Inc.
- Ordinance No. 26-75 (offered by Council Member Mark Cognevich) amended the Waterworks & Sewerage operating budget to transfer funds for the purchase of computers to support a new billing system.
- Ordinance No. 26-76 (offered by Council Member Mark Cognevich) transferred Telecommunications Department funds to cover computer hardware and HVAC/property needs.
- Ordinance No. 26-77 (offered by Council Member Mark Cognevich) increased the Waterworks & Sewerage Fund Aqueous Foam Settlement Reserve by $301,049.16.
All of the above ordinances were adopted by unanimous votes of the members present; the Secretary was directed to certify and release each ordinance so parish officials may implement the authorized actions.
The council also approved the minutes from the May 14, 2026 meeting and adjourned at 4:04 p.m.
