LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / November 21, 1999

CONVENT – At least two more meetings are scheduled for discussion of the St. James Parish budget, Parish President Dale Hymel Jr. said.The proposed budget for 2000 was introduced at the Nov. 3 meeting and isconsidered a “standstill” budget, accommodating the drop in tax revenues from the Kaiser strike and the IMC-Agrico layoff.

A special meeting of the St. James Parish Council is set Nov. 30 at 6 p.m.in the courthouse at Convent. A public hearing is set on the budget at thecouncil’s Dec. 1 meeting, starting at 6:30 p.m., also at Convent.Operating revenues for 1999 are expected to be $1.3 million less than in1998, reflecting the Kaiser impact on sales taxes. Revenues in 2000,however, are expected to rebound slightly. Total anticipated revenue for2000 is $24.9 million. Expenditures are expected to be $23 million,including $1.6 million for the new west bank library expansion.Funds in the amount of $1.6 million have already been set aside for thelibrary project.

At the Nov. 17 meeting, an ordinance was introduced to balance out the1999 budget. Fiscal year 1999 operating expenditures are estimated at$20.9 million, a $1.3 million increase over 1998. Fiscal year 2000operating expenditures are projected to be $23.2 million, an increase of$2.3 million, or 11.1 percent, greater than 1999.”As the parish moves into a new millennium, it does so with quiet optimism,” Hymel said in his budget message. “As was stated earlier,overall revenues for the year 2000 budget are expected to be only slightly above revenues in 1999. Services to our citizens, however, will remain attheir present level.”Hymel continued: “Necessary improvements will be made to parish buildings, recreation sites and parish equipment. With the help of stateand federal grants, the parish’s roads and drainage system will continue to be improved.”Hymel later noted: “The year 2000 could very well see drastic changes in our parish because our economy shows signs of slowing and leveling off.

Local businesses and industry will be making changes to respond to the economic slowdown. This budget incorporates several changes and newapproaches to achieve our goals for next year, but as business and industry change we must change as well or we will be left behind.”

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