April 8, 2025 City of Jeanerette Finance Committee Meeting

[City Clerk]

Minutes from the April 8, 2025 City of Jeanerette Finance Committee Meeting Present- Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr., Finance Manager Christie Conner, Susan Colden City Clerk, Alderwoman Charlene Moore, and Alderwoman Tia Simmons. Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr. called the meeting to order. There were no public comments. Susan Colden provided the update on the City Millage. This year we are again going to try and roll the millage rate forward to the maximum authorized levy. The City attempted to roll forward last year but the Jo Ann Garrison with the Legislative Auditor’s office rejected the submission due to timing of advertising. The Resolutions were reviewed, and the advertising. It is estimated that the amount of increase attributable to the millage is $29,385. The Mayor questioned if this increase was sufficient given the increasing costs of items such as brine for the water plant. Alderwoman Moore remarked that we have increased water rates in December. Alderwoman Simmons said if we pay close attention to the budget and monitor spending, we will see we are fine for now. Referring to the brine, she added that yes brine is over budget but other areas are under so overall we are within budget. We have to watch what we are spending, including raises, but we need to hire the best people. We have to spend every penny wisely. Our Capital Outlay projects is what really impacts the budget. Next Alderwoman Simmons addressed the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Report. She explained that this is the reporting of the ARPA funds we received. For the prior two reports we were not able to determine how the figures were determined. Susan had to attend a workshop because a filing deadline was not timely and learned that we have to report how all of the monies were spent by Dec of 2024. So, there are two options to try and resubmit or work with the one report we have remaining. Susan reached out to the help desk and has not had an answer. Next the committee reviewed the P & L. The Mayor left, Alderwoman Simmons said that Darnall Sikes entered the amended budget. Alderwoman Simmons stated that the budget versus actual should be at 75%. General fund looks good but other income needs to have the funds moved to other areas. Administration is out of balance in coroner fees and meetings and conventions. It was explained that other department do not have this type of expense account and Alderwoman Simmon’s said we should be adding these accounts as needed and then amend the budget to address the change. The LCDBG check needs to go against the computer expense. The police department needs meals and special events. The overage is due to Mardi Gras, and the organization needs to pay that amount. It was also noted that the office supplies is way over budget. Maybe some of the items could have gone against janitorial supplies or Police Protection accounts. The Mayor returned. Fire Department is on budget with the exception of the side-by side, but maybe that should have been split between 2 accounts, Christie will run a GL on the account. There were questions regarding supplies in street vs drainage, street does not have any activity. Next Alderwoman Simmons stated that the income in the sales tax funds is overstated because it includes income from June 2024. Fund 57, Street Ad Val looks good, but not a lot of spent. Fund 49, Water sinking shows the bills are being paid to Red River Bank. Capital outlay, 57, and 55 Alderwoman Simmons made her own P & L since the one in CSDC is wrong. Alderwoman then explained the transfers in from 1% to 57. Next was transfers from infrastructure account which were from ARPA and Act 170. And then there is the interest earned on those funds in LAMP. There were also transfers from the General LAMP account that was not ARPA funds. For the big sewer bill. Budget for 1% transfers was $500,000., and we have transferred $363,000, because we got CWEF and some ARPA money we were able to put back against 1%, so we have spent $209,000 left in 1%.. These transfers from 1% to funds 55 & 57 along with the budget operating fund transfers to general fund, with $60,000 still to go into general and $209,000 for capital outlay this could almost wipeout the account because the balance right now is $$297,206. Next is funds 60 and 61, fire and police protection, the incomes in these accounts are overstated because it has the June transfers made in August. Fire Protection expenses are in budget. Police Protection the vehicle purchase is still not spent but this equipment and supplies is at 87%, repairs and maintenance on vehicles is also high. The Mayor stated they are looking at getting another quote on vehicle leases. Then Alderwoman Simmons addressed the Utility Fund. Water distribution, materials and supplies is high, but the replacement hydrants went in there and that project is done for this year but we will need an additional 10 next year replaced. Water plant expenses generator not on P & L but on blue sheets. Chemicals is good except brine which we will need to increase but if you put all of the chemical together, we are at 75%. Also, there are two accounts that are not on the P & L, also, sewer line maintenance has the $35,000 from rain tree in wrong area. So the budget needs to be amended by June 30, so the amended budget and the 25-26 budget will both be introduced in May and passed in June. Alderwoman Simmons requested the department heads attend the May finance meeting. Alderwoman Simmons gave Susan a number on entries for Darnell Sikes to make to clean up any errors. Susan then outlined the Utility report with 1985 current customers The billing and collections are good and we have 128 on direct deposit. Sales tax had an increase of 21%. The bank balances are included for Feb and March since Darnell Sikes got both bank reconciliations done. The cash flow projections show that $60,000 is left for operating transfers. Then the aged payables reviewed, the payables for 57 was missing and Christie will email. Tia is questioning if a payment was made twice to sellers. For a Civic source invoice was noted that these are from funds we first collect with the tax payments. With no other items to discuss the meeting was adjourned


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Carol Bourgeois Jr., Mayor
ATTEST:




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Susan Colden City Clerk