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Ruston council declines to direct legal review of HB2442 single-city fire district option
Summary
A motion to direct the City Attorney to review the feasibility of forming a single-city fire district under House Bill 2442 failed 3-2; proponents argued it could stabilize fire funding while opponents worried about scope and legal costs prior to full analysis.
Councilmember Jensen moved on June 2 to direct the City Attorney to review whether Ruston could pursue formation of a single‑city fire district under recently enacted House Bill 2442 and to return with legal and fiscal analysis. Jensen said she was not proposing immediate formation but wanted a preliminary legal opinion so the Council could consider funding options for the Fire Department.
Councilmember Hedrick and Councilmember Wilson expressed support for a limited legal review; Councilmember Holland cautioned against expending attorney resources without a narrowly defined scope and summarized discussions with Fire Chief Allen about operations and budget needs. Mayor Hopkins advised that funding options and projected revenues should be evaluated during the upcoming budget process and suggested exploring interlocal agreements as an alternative. The motion failed on a 3‑2 vote: Councilmembers Jensen and Wilson voted in favor; Councilmembers Holland, Hedrick, and Syler voted against.
A staff memo attached to the meeting record noted Ruston currently spends about $300,000 from the general fund on fire services, flagged an August 4 deadline to get a measure on the November ballot if pursued, and listed legal, fiscal, and operational issues for review including voter thresholds, hybrid staffing models, and taxpayer impacts. Councilmembers said they would continue discussing fire funding options as part of budget and long‑range planning even though the Council did not direct an immediate legal review.
