Broussard proposes council chambers, Highway 89 three‑laning and $5M sports facility in capital plan

Burton, the budget presenter, said the capital outlay request includes roughly 17 general‑fund projects plus utility and recreation items, and described several large proposals by name. Among the largest council‑funded items he highlighted were site work and construction for a new council chambers and equipping police vehicles; together those general‑fund items represent a material share of the roughly $4.17 million in general‑fund capital spending shown on the budget pages.

On transportation, Burton described a three‑laning project on Highway 89 coordinated with Lafayette. He estimated the next‑year project cost at about $3.78 million and said roughly $3.5 million is expected from LCG and state grant sources, leaving the city to fund a little over $200,000.

Parks and recreation is a notable component: the sports complex and a tennis/pickleball facility were listed, and Burton said the budget anticipates spending $5 million this year on that facility toward an $8 million estimate, with the remaining roughly $319,000 proposed to come from the 2011 recreation sales tax. He said debt (bonds) and fund transfers are already earmarked for some recreation work.

Grant leverage is central: Burton said capital projects funds show about $11.73 million in grants next year and that the city plans a $777,000 DEEQ revolving loan at low interest to help bridge funding gaps. "Y'all did good on the grants this year," Burton told the council, noting the city’s strategy of using matching funds to draw down state capital outlay dollars.

Council will receive the budget for consideration in regular session; no formal capital approvals were taken at the hearing.