Calling it "the most challenging of the seven budgets I have sent to the
council for consideration,” City-Parish President Joey Durel Thursday
unveiled a 2010-2011 budget that totals roughly $610 million dollars and
includes notable new commitments to Lafayette’s cultural and
recreational life — LCG’s purchase of the horse farm as well as
increased funding for the Acadiana Center for Arts chief among them.
Under
Durel’s plan, Lafayette Consolidated Government would set aside
$500,000 for the next 10 years to cover most of the cost of purchasing
the 100-acre horse farm property off Johnston Street from UL in a deal
that includes LCG swapping Youth Park near campus for the horse farm,
which is expected to appraise for around $5.7 million; Youth Park’s
anticipated appraised value is approximately $500,000. LCG would pay UL
the difference between the two appraisals to acquire the horse farm,
which, through a cooperative endeavor agreement, would be developed and
maintained as a city park by the nonprofit Community Foundation of
Acadiana.
Durel also indicated that he envisions Lafayette Police
Department’s equine patrol unit to be housed at the park and connecting
the Horse Farm to Girard Park via a bike trail.
"This
acquisition benefits our entire population and will help us attract
people and business to our community, while aiding our great university
financially so that it can continue to drive the economy through
research and education within Louisiana and beyond,” Durel added. "I
assure you that future generations ... will thank you for having the
vision and foresight to preserve this unique property forever.”
Acknowledging
that LCG owns upwards of $100 million in arts and cultural facilities,
Durel’s budget also allocates $285,000 in operating funds for the AcA,
which in October will open a $10 million theater expansion. "This is
more than a quality of life issue,” he told the council. "This is an
economic development issue. We cannot turn our back on this investment,
especially at a time when the economy is difficult.”
Durel also
noted that LCG’s share for payments into tretirement systems is set to
rise substantially: $2.8 million in additional funding for police and
fire pensions, plus an additional $933,000 for other LCG employees.
Durel proposes offsetting those increased liabilities through a
reduction in the LCG workforce by eliminating positions that have been
open for a few years.
"These mandated expenses for the pension
boards must be budgeted along with the decrease in revenues,” Durel
said. "Consequently, I am proposing the use of fund balance to make up
some of the difference, but it is still not possible to balance the
budget without substantial cuts. After lengthy meetings with department
directors, CAO Dee Stanley and CFO Becky Lalumia, I am recommending the
elimination of 23 vacant positions for an annual savings of $1,112,321. I
am assured that these reductions will not affect the services provided
to the public by any of the departments where cuts have been
implemented.”
The council will hammer out the budget during a
series of special meetings that conclude on Sept. 30 with votes on a
final budget. The fiscal year runs from Nov. 1 to Oct. 31.
