LAPLACE — Declining revenue, largely based on a drop in ad valorem taxes, resulted in St. John the Baptist Parish adopting an operating budget for 2017 showing a shortfall for the second consecutive year and three of the past four.

Four days before the end of the fiscal year, the Parish Council during its meeting Tuesday approved a budget with a projected $79,961 deficit. The shortfall is a bit smaller than the $90,107 the parish was expected to show in 2016.

Parish President Natalie Robottom slashed some areas of the general fund, increasing expenses in others. Robottom, who did not return a request for comment, cut office supplies, car allowances and telephone expenses for several departments, reduced the cost of security in district court by 20 percent and cut some salary expenses in at least two departments although the specific cuts are not specified.

However, sources confirmed there were no layoffs of existing personnel. Conversely, car allowances and funds allocated for travel and training in the Human Resource Department nearly doubled.

The budget projects total revenue for the general fund at $4,689,038, a nearly five percent drop from a year ago. The biggest change is in the ad valorem tax, which is projecting a decrease, from $1.983 million in 2016 to $1.746 million for the upcoming year.

Expenses in the general fund are being cut from $10.9 million to $10.6 million. The bulk of the overall deficit is covered by what is called transfers in from other departments and revenue sources, including a $2.5 million transfer in from the economic development department and is reflective of the sales tax collected.

— By Richard Meek