Iberia Parish Council adopts most 2026 property millages; library set at 3.8 mills after substitute motion

The Iberia Parish Council on June 10 approved a package of property millage ordinances for 2026, adopting adjusted rates for multiple funds while rejecting some proposed increases.

The council adopted the adjusted general-parish millage ordinance (5432) at an adjusted rate of 4.04 mills and later rejected a companion ordinance (5433) that would have increased the rate to 4.12 mills. Clerk read the ordinances and members voted; the motion to adopt the adjusted rate carried while the proposal to raise it failed after debate about required vote thresholds and competing budget demands.

Library funding was a focal point in public comment and council debate. Resident Catherine Withrow urged support for the library, saying, “For every dollar that's spent on the library, 4 to $6 come back to the community,” and described daily services and renovation needs. Council discussion focused on whether to impose the full voter-authorized 4.5 mills or to substitute a lower rate. Councilman (S3) moved a substitute to collect at 3.8 mills; the substitute passed and the main motion with the substitute carried, setting the parish library millage at 3.8 mills for 2026.

Other actions: the council adopted the adjusted rate ordinances for exempted municipalities (adjusted rate 2.02 mills) and for the public building maintenance fund (adjusted rate 4.65 mills). A proposal to increase the public building maintenance millage to 4.76 mills was debated—members warned about declining fund balances and service impacts—and the increase failed. The council also approved ordinances for the public health unit and drainage facilities after members described growing costs for mandated services and flooding concerns.

Council members framed their votes around balancing immediate service needs and long-term fiscal constraints. One member said the public-building fund is under pressure and that delaying needed maintenance would raise future costs; another argued building the tax base and prioritizing spending could reduce the need to roll forward rates now.

The meeting record shows motions were made, substitutes offered where allowed, and final votes marked by the clerk as either carried or failed according to council procedures. The council scheduled no further action on the failed increase ordinances at the meeting’s close.