City HallFriday, November 6
Metro Council gets its first look at the budget as the DA says $8.3 million falls short
The Daily Baton Rouge team
Council members saw the 2027 budget for the first time Thursday, and Councilman Cleve Dunn put the big question plainly: “Is the damage done?” He wants to know whether the city-parish has absorbed the loss of St. George's tax revenue or faces more cuts.
District Attorney Hillar Moore asked for $22 million. WBRZ reports the plan earmarks $8.3 million, and Moore told Louisiana First News that's about what his office got last year. Moore said the federal grant “will give us a little breathing room, but it won’t help us solve our budget problem.”
The DA asked for $22 million and the plan sets aside $8.3 million
Sources: WBRZ, Louisiana First News
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| DA's request | $22 million |
| Proposed for DA | $8.3 million |
On the police side, Chief T.J. Morse said the raise of at least 15% approved in April brought a big jump in applicants. He's looking to hire as many as 90 more officers.
520officers on BRPD's staff, short of the nearly 700 it used to have
Chief T.J. Morse says he's looking to hire as many as 90 more to reach budgeted staff levels.
Source: The Advocate
- Budget hearings: department heads start next week
- Metro Council vote: Dec. 8
- Model Cities grant: about $64 million, a three-year plan
- January police academy: Morse hopes for at least 30 recruits
Sources: The Advocate, Louisiana First News, WBRZ, WAFB