Finance Committee recommends splitting operations manager salary among three departments, retroactive to Jan. 1

The Jackson Parish Finance Committee voted May 26 to recommend splitting the operations manager’s salary among the maintenance (General), road and solid waste departments, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026.

Amy Magee, chair of the Finance Committee, called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. in the Nathaniel Zeno, Jr. Meeting Room in Jonesboro. Nia Watkins, secretary-treasurer, presented a financial report that included a budget-to-actual update before the committee took up an amendment to the agenda on salary funding.

Keith Burris, a committee member, moved to amend the agenda to allow discussion and a recommendation that the operations manager’s salary be paid from the maintenance (General), road and solid waste departments; Tarneshala Cowans seconded the amendment. The chair opened the floor for public comment and Gina Thomas spoke during that period. The amendment carried.

Burris then moved — with Cowans again seconding — to recommend splitting the operations manager’s salary between the three departments, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026. The motion carried; the minutes do not record a roll-call tally or any opposing votes.

After approving the recommendation, Burris moved to adjourn, Cowans seconded and the committee adjourned.

The minutes record the committee’s action but do not specify how the recommendation will be implemented administratively or whether the recommendation will be forwarded to a larger governing body for final approval. The financial report presented by Watkins was described as a budget-to-actual update; no dollar amounts or further details were included in the minutes.