St. Charles Parish Council 2027 Final Budget Hearing – October 20, 2026

On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., the St. Charles Parish Council held a final budget hearing in the Council Chambers at the Parish Courthouse in Hahnville to consider Ordinance 2026-0173, appropriating funds for the 2027 Consolidated Operating and Capital Budget. Parish President Matthew Jewell delivered the budget message; department heads and judges presented their proposed budgets; and the council made a series of line-item amendments. No public comments were offered. The ordinance was not adopted at this hearing; it remains scheduled for public hearings on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. and Monday, October 26, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

Budget Message

• President Jewell summarized the proposed 2027 budget, which includes $256.4 million in governmental fund expenditures, $149.9 million in projected revenues, and a $131.5 million beginning fund balance carried forward from 2026.
• Major allocations include $74.3 million for levee protection, $33.3 million for public works, and $3.2 million in grant funding for drainage projects; more than $136.3 million is dedicated to public-works and levee-related capital projects.
• The parish’s total millage rate is projected to drop from 118.41 mils to 100.9 mils, the lowest since 1992. Assessed property values are expected to rise to $2.605 billion, ranking St. Charles Parish seventh statewide.
• The budget includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and merit-based raises, funding for an East Bank gymnasium, recreation improvements, and continued drainage-master-plan implementation.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The council opened the public hearing on Ordinance 2026-0173 three times during the session, inviting anyone to speak for up to three minutes. No members of the public came forward, and each public comment period was closed without testimony.

Departmental Budget Reviews

• Courts: District Court judges, including Chief Judge Rochelle Farrag, Judge Oquen, Judge Lauren Rogers, and the Division D judge, presented court and grand jury budgets; council members had no questions.
• Parks and Recreation: Dwayne Foray presented recreation, Prime Time Seniors (formerly RSVP), summer camp, and capital project budgets. He noted that merging Prime Time Seniors into recreation produced staffing efficiencies while continuing 72 meal services per year, and that summer camp’s approximately $80,000 increase is due to contracted AMPM/summer-camp staff. Killona Park improvements are awaiting an Entergy grant; Booty Park has $77,000 for field and pavilion improvements.
• Public Works and Engineering: Brandon Bernard and Miles Bingham presented transportation, roads and drainage, flood control, paved streets, sidewalks/crosswalks, and drainage budgets. They reported $500,000 in state road funding, $250,000 budgeted for Spillway Road maintenance, and an $800,000 total for the Kendler/Paul Frederick Road improvement project scheduled for bid in December. The new engineering department consists of five staff, with no additional hires planned in 2027. The West Bank Bike Path remains stalled because the Corps of Engineers has not moved forward.
• Flood Protection and Utilities: Sam Scholle noted a $16.7 million grant, the Montz 340 pump station expected to start in late January, and a $5.5 million grant for the Sunset engine upgrade. Waterworks Director Greg Gordon attributed budget increases to fuel, chemicals, and meter equipment; solid waste does not include a monthly River Birch route on Old Spanish Trail.
• Other departments: Council reviewed budgets for council districts, parish president, public information/cable TV, purchasing, personnel, legal, planning and zoning, coastal management, ICC/codes, information technology, GIS, government buildings, risk management, grants/elevation grants, Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, animal control, community services, economic development, and workforce investment. Personnel is adding one internal communications/engagement specialist; government buildings required a reclassification amendment; and economic development’s professional services line was corrected downward by $100,000.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance 2026-0173 remains pending; no final appropriation vote was taken at this hearing. The next public hearings are October 22 at 1:00 p.m. and October 26 at 6:00 p.m.
• Amendments that were brought to a vote passed unanimously among members present. Councilwoman Skiba was absent; Councilwoman Fonseca left before the later votes.
• Chairman Pilié’s proposed amendment to reduce his 2026 District 3 budget by $41,000 and reallocate funds to 2027 accounts was deferred so staff could prepare the motion in proper format.
• General government buildings amendment passed: moved $15,200 for ADS fire access control, $23,000 for certified lab water treatment, $88,550 for chillers, and $52,000 for Tiger Tech generators from acquisition of motor vehicles to improvements other than buildings.
• Economic development professional services were reduced by $100,000; a related $50,000 reduction from economic development grants was redirected to fortified roof program grants.
• Councilwoman deBruler’s amendment redirected $60,000 from 2026 District 7 and dog park rainbow bridge funds to $50,000 for fortified roof program grants and $10,000 for community services rental assistance.
• Councilwoman O’Daniels’ amendment moved $350,000 from Monsanto Linear Park recreation improvements to architectural and engineering for the Fairfield Oakland Microengineering Drainage Project.
• Councilman Carmadelle’s amendment moved $14,000 from his 2026 District 4 budget to summer feeding and recreation for relocating the Veterans memorial.
• Councilman Fisher’s amendments:
  • $243,099 from East Bank Bridge Park Gymnasium architectural/engineering to drainage improvements for the articulating block mat/Homeless Canal at Armand Condominiums parking lot.
  • $36,000 from Hill Heights drainage improvements to the same articulating block mat project.
  • $45,000 from a Carriage/HOMA drainage structure to cleaning cross culverts from Homeless Canal to Ormond Weir and Lake 1 bank stabilization, distributed as $25,000 to improvements, $10,000 to architectural engineering, and $10,000 to other fees.
  • $250,000 from Destrehan 2 pump station access bridge repair; $120,000 added to articulating block mat, $120,000 added to the cross culverts project, and $5,000 each to architectural engineering and other fees as placeholders.
• Finance Director Grant Dussom’s amendment reduced CPRA grant revenue in Fund 112 by $1,845,000, increased Des Allemands bulkhead improvements by $310,000, and reduced New SARP culvert improvements by $2,155,000; the SARP culvert project is expected to be funded in 2028.