For Immediate Release:  August 18, 2015

For Further Information Contact:  Karen Harrell, 491-1251; or John Cardone, 491-1381

 

City Submits Proposed Operating and Capital Budget

for 2015-2016 Fiscal Year to City Council

 

On August 14, the City submitted to the City Council the proposed Operating and Capital Budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year, which includes $68 million for General Fund expenditures and operating transfers, a 4.2 percent increase over the current 2014-2015 fiscal year adopted budget.

 

The proposed budget additionally allocates $2.5 million from the General Fund reserves to pay for the first in a series of projects to repair one of the City’s 13 wastewater collection basins that service the Wastewater Treatment Plant ‘A’ area. This is part of a compliance order by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). 

 

The Fire and Police Departments account for more than half of the City’s operating expenditures. When the expenditures of the Public Works Department are added, these three areas of operation account for 80 percent of the General Fund’s operating expenses.

 

Total proposed revenues of $68.5 million represent a 9.8 percent increase over the current budget. Sales tax revenues of $44.3 million represent a projected 5 percent increase and account for nearly 65 percent of all General Fund revenues.

 

The City’s proposed budget does not take into consideration the quarter-cent sales tax proposition placed on the October 24 ballot by the City’s administration and City Council. The current sales tax levy in Lake Charles is a quarter-cent less than any other area of the parish.

 

The fiscal year 2015-2016 capital budget includes $32.1 million in projects compared to $23.1 million for the current budget year. The increase is primarily attributable to the major cost of necessary wastewater and water system improvements.

 

Funding for streets, sidewalks and drainage total $8.2 million and is funded by $4.9 million in sales tax, $1.2 million in gaming funds, $1.2 million in state capital outlay funds and various other sources such as grants and parish participation.

 

Community service and general government projects total $4.8 million and include partial funding for a proposed new fire station.

 

The City of Lake Charles will hold a public hearing by the City Council of Lake Charles on August 25, at 5:30 p.m., at the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 326 Pujo St.  The purpose of the hearing is to review the proposed budget for the City of Lake Charles for the fiscal year 2015-2016. All citizens of Lake Charles are invited to attend this meeting and to present questions or comments concerning the proposed budget. 

 

The entire proposed budget is available for public inspection in the Office of the Mayor on the 10th floor of City Hall, 326 Pujo St.; at the City’s website, www.cityoflakecharles.com; and the following Calcasieu Parish libraries: Epps Branch, 1320 N. Simmons St.; Carnegie Memorial Branch, 411 Pujo St.; and Central Library, at the corner of Ernest St. and West Claude St.

          

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The City of Lake Charles fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities.   For more information, or to obtain a Title VI Complaint Form, see the City of Lake Charles website- www.cityoflakecharles.com  or call the Mayor’s Action Line at (337) 491-1346, or contact the appropriate Department Head, or call the Title VI coordinator at (337) 491-1440.