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Gonzales council adopts amended FY2026–27 general fund budget; several related ordinances and appointments also pass
Summary
The Gonzales mayor and council approved amendments to the FY2026–27 general fund budget, including line-item adjustments and a 2.4% cost-of-living increase incorporated into personnel ranges; the meeting also approved two board appointments and final votes on two district/operating budget ordinances.
The mayor and city council voted to adopt an amended fiscal year 2026–2027 general fund budget after approving a motion to add recently circulated allocations and revise personnel pay ranges.
Council members moved to amend the proposed budget to (among other changes) add the distributed pages 8A–41A that itemize city salary schedules, apply an anticipated 2.4% cost-of-living increase to the published salary ranges, and modify multiple line items. The amendment reduced community development funding from $100,000 to $50,000, cut the Joe Life Festival Association allocation from $50,000 to $30,000, reduced senior citizen recreation funding from $12,000 to $5,000 and added $60,000 to the self-insured property damage fund with a policy to maintain a yearly minimum of $100,000 and replenish as necessary.
"The city has previously adopted a salary schedule and range schedule for positions for all positions in the city ... these salaries will be 2.4% higher than the included FY2026 salary schedule," a council member summarized during the amendment discussion. The motion to accept the budget changes was moved by Councilman Boudreaux and seconded by Councilwoman Lambert; the council then took a roll call and the amendment and final ordinance were approved.
Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 4304 (adopting FY2026–27 general fund budget, as amended): Adopted by roll call (affirmative votes recorded in the transcript). - Ordinance 4305 (Pace Center Economic Development District budget): Adopted by roll call. - Ordinance 4306 (amending FY2025–26 operating budget): Adopted by roll call. - Appointment: Jay Skidmore to the Industrial Development Board: Approved by roll call. - Appointment: Chris Berthelot Jr. to the Fire & Police Civil Service Board: Approved by roll call.
Why it matters
The amended budget sets personnel ranges and incorporates a 2.4% COLA that the council said will apply to positions throughout the city, including the mayor and police chief ranges noted in the amendment. The changes to line items and the establishment of a replenishment policy for the self-insurance fund alter near-term department allocations and fund balances.
What’s next
The council deferred adoption of the May 11 meeting minutes for attorney review of video and transcript of a prior vote before returning to that procedural item at the next regular meeting. The budget ordinance and the related district and operating budget ordinances were recorded as final votes in tonight’s meeting.
